Smartphones and cloud storage have made it easier than ever to capture and save personal moments. But the same convenience has also increased the risk of misuse. Whether it is a real photo, a private video or an AI-generated deepfake, once such content is leaked or circulated without consent, it becomes a serious violation of privacy, dignity and personal autonomy. With a rise in deepfakes and anonymous sharing on messaging platforms, cyber law experts stress that speedy response and documentation are crucial for victims.
What should you do immediately if your photos or videos get leaked?
In an exclusive conversation with Daily Jagran, Virag Gupta, Supreme Court advocate and cyber law expert, outlines three immediate steps for victims. “A victim must first preserve evidence by taking screenshots of the leaked content, profile links or URLs where it has been shared,” he says. The next step is to report the incident without delay by calling the cybercrime helpline 1930 or filing a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in. Victims should also secure their digital presence by changing passwords, enabling two-factor authentication and logging out of unknown devices.
Experts caution against forwarding the clip, even to friends or well-wishers, as every additional share widens circulation and can complicate legal proceedings.
Where and how can you file a complaint?
Cyber offences can be reported from anywhere in India, jurisdiction does not restrict action. Victims can submit complaints through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, upload screenshots, links and identity proof and receive an acknowledgment number. For urgent assistance, the 1930 helpline offers guidance on documentation and next steps. Complaints can also be lodged at the nearest police station or cyber cell to seek registration of an FIR under the Information Technology Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). If police refuse to act, the matter can be escalated to the Superintendent of Police or a local Magistrate.
Gupta adds that One Stop Centres (OSCs) also assist victims with reporting, legal support and counselling.
What kind of evidence helps investigators trace the source?
From a technical perspective, screenshots alone are not enough. Gupta explains that IP addresses and connection logs help identify internet service providers and approximate locations of uploads. Email headers, routing data, social media activity logs, private messages and account metadata reveal how content was circulated. Mobile phone data, including app logs, attachments, GPS, Wi-Fi and network information can establish timelines and physical locations linked to the offence.
This is why experts advise victims not to delete devices, chats or accounts linked to the incident.
Is sharing a private or AI-edited video a crime?
Forwarding a private video is not harmless, even if the person did not create it.
Gupta points out that under the Information Technology Act, 2000,
- Section 67 (obscene material) carries punishment of up to three years’ imprisonment and a Rs 5 lakh fine for a first offence.
- Section 67A (sexually explicit content) can lead to up to five years’ imprisonment and a Rs 10 lakh fine.
Under the BNS/IPC, offences such as voyeurism, obscenity and acts intended to insult a woman’s modesty also apply. If the content involves a minor, even storage or forwarding attracts strict punishment under the POCSO Act.
How can you protect your photos from AI misuse and deepfakes?
Cyber experts recommend keeping social media accounts private, limiting public sharing of personal images, avoiding unknown apps that request gallery access and securing cloud backups with encryption. Tools like Nightshade can "poison" images to block AI training, while biometrics and VPNs add device-level protection. Uploading high-resolution personal photos on open platforms increases the risk of AI scraping.
How can you avoid getting scammed by AI-related threats?
Victims should be wary of messages offering “instant takedown” or “hacking help” for money. Such offers are often scams that exploit panic. Legitimate remedies lie only with platforms, law enforcement agencies and courts. You must never pay for unknown services.
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What should you never do as a victim?
A victim must not delete evidence or pay extortionists. And most importantly, they must not stay silent. Even if content was once shared consensually, leaking or weaponising it without consent is illegal.
Conclusion: The Indian law recognises the harm of leaked private videos and provides victims the right to protection, remedy and compensation through courts, including injunctions and victim schemes.
(Disclaimer: This article is part of the series 'It's My Right'. The views expressed in the article are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. To read more articles in the series, click here)