The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to curb the dissemination of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) online. Issued under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the SOP sets out a detailed framework for victims to request the removal of content that exposes their private areas, depicts them in nudity or sexual acts, or uses morphed images without consent.
It specifies multiple channels for filing such complaints, including intermediaries, One Stop Centres (OSCs), law enforcement agencies, and the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP). Furthermore, the SOP mandates that online platforms act within 24 hours of receiving a complaint.
In addition, it establishes clear lines of coordination among intermediaries, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to ensure prompt content removal and prevent re-uploads.
Significantly, the release of this SOP follows directions from the Madras High Court. In July 2025, the court instructed MeitY to prepare “a prototype as to what a victim girl must do when faced with situations of dissemination of NCII content”.
The court issued this order after a woman lawyer alleged that someone had circulated her intimate images online without her consent. Consequently, the bench directed the government to establish a uniform, victim-oriented process for redress. Thereafter, MeitY submitted the SOP in October 2025 to the court, after which the case was closed.
Methods For Removing Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery
The SOP lays out four primary channels through which individuals can request the removal of non-consensual intimate imagery content. Each mechanism defines how victims can report violations and what actions authorities must take in response:
• OSCs: The SOP specifies that female victims, or anyone acting on their behalf, may report the dissemination of NCII content to the nearest OSC under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The OSC must assist the complainant in filing a report on the NCRP, offer legal or psychological counselling if requested, and help with police complaints or legal aid through the District Legal Services Authority.
• Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs): Victims can also approach their local police station directly. Police must immediately report the flagged content on the NCRP and the Sahyog Portal, register a case upon request, and connect the complainant with an OSC for counselling or legal assistance.
• NCRP: Individuals may alternatively report non-consensual intimate imagery through the NCRP. Managed by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), the portal enables swift investigation and expedited content removal. Content hosted outside social media platforms can also be referred to the DoT for further action.
•Intermediaries: …
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