Revenge Porn: Dire Need To Address ‘Sextortion’ And Stop Circulation Of Private Photos

NEW DELHI: The word consent has become too underrated nowadays. It’s time to understand that consent is not just confined to physical abuse but the term itself resonates beyond the boundaries of rape and abuse.

The word consent literally means to accept or decline any general proposal, but the harsh reality is that consent doesn’t matter in a developing country like India.

Revenge porn is an important term but in India victim blaming is the more preferred way. So revenge porn is a topic of stark silence in the land of diversity and festivity.

Here when a girl’s personal pictures from the internet are used in a wrong way, instead of focusing on the criminal, the society starts victim blaming. This is what has to change because this prevents a girl from reporting the crime.

A practicing lawyer, Tanya Appachu has made Instagram a tool to educate and empower women about their rights.

The first step includes reporting the crime to the cyber cell. The amended 354(C) of the Criminal Law (Amended) Act 2013, also called the ‘’Voyeurism Section’’, criminalises capturing and sharing images of a woman in private space. It deals with punishment consisting of imprisonment which may extend up to 5 years, and fine up to Rs two lakh or both in many cases.

The second step is all about identifying the particular website on which the image has been posted or shared and then sending them a legal notice to take it down. Just because the things are not taking place physically it does not mean that it’s not sexual harassment.

The third step is about filing a complaint with the National Commission Of Women. The charges depend on the type of pictures that are shared without consent and criminal charges can be filed under section 504 and 506 of IPC. 

The most important thing is privacy. Your privacy matters so don’t allow anyone to cross the limits of your privacy. Never be afraid to hold the people who harm you, even on the internet, guilty of the act. Take strict measures regarding your safety and privacy because your safety is in your hands.

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