INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL VIRALITY OF OBJECTIONABLE IMAGES

INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL VIRALITY OF OBJECTIONABLE IMAGES

16-MARCH-ENG 9

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------Individuals concerned about the potential virality of private and objectionable images or videos can register on a portal named StopNCII.org (Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse). This initiative was officially launched in December 2021 in collaboration between SWGfL and Facebook (Meta).

It is operated by the UK's Revenge Porn Helpline (which is a part of SWGfL). This technology possesses the capability to prevent your private images from spreading across the internet before they even go public. The most significant feature of this portal is its emphasis on privacy and security. When a user initiates the process on this portal to secure their sensitive photos or videos, the website does not store the actual files on its servers. Instead, it generates a unique "hash" (a digital code) for that specific file. This digital code effectively functions as a digital fingerprint for the image. Once the digital code (hash) for your photo has been generated, it is shared with Facebook, Instagram, and other major social media platforms. Subsequently, if anyone—whether it be a thief who stole your phone or a malicious acquaintance—attempts to upload that file to the internet, the social media platform's algorithms will immediately recognize the hash and block the upload before it can be posted. In other words, the objectionable content will be intercepted by the system before it is ever exposed to the public.

On May 2, 2025, Case No. 33-25 was registered at the Cyber ​​Police Station regarding an incident in which posters featuring a young woman's old private photographs were created and displayed at the main intersections of her in-laws' village and her native village. Acting against the accused under Sections 77, 78, and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as well as Section 66E of the IT Act, the police took the accused into custody from the Ara Nawada police station area and subsequently produced him before the Ara Civil Court. On September 15, 2025, Case No. 33-25 was registered at the Cyber ​​Police Station against a young man residing in Lucknow, UP, regarding the viral circulation of a girl's photograph via Facebook. Acting under Sections 77, 78, and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as well as Section 66E of the IT Act, the police took the accused into custody in Lucknow, UP, and produced him before the Arrah Civil Court.

DSP of the Cyber ​​Cell, Sneh Setu, stated that people often—either unknowingly or carelessly—store private photographs and videos on their mobile phones which, if leaked, can lead to significant trouble for them. Cybercriminals or individuals who steal phones exploit such content for blackmailing purposes and to tarnish a person's social reputation. From a security perspective, one should refrain from storing any kind of objectionable or highly sensitive images on a mobile phone.

Sub-Inspector Swati Rani of the Cyber ​​Police Station has encouraged the general public to utilize a global portal named StopNCII.org (Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse). Sub-Inspector Swati Rani has appealed to the residents of Bhojpur to remain vigilant regarding their privacy and to seek assistance from government and authorized portals. She emphasized that even a minor act of negligence on your part can provide a major opportunity for cybercriminals. If any individual falls victim to a cybercrime or if their privacy is violated, they should immediately—and without fear—report the incident to the nearest police station or the Cyber ​​Cell.

DSP Sneh Setu of the Cyber ​​Cell explained that nude, semi-nude, or naked photographs, as well as videos depicting sexual acts, can be secured through this free-of-cost portal. For security purposes, the photographs or videos submitted must belong to the individual submitting them. Since the portal does not save the original files, the user's privacy remains completely intact. Access to this portal is restricted to individuals aged 18 years and above. This technology will curb crimes such as revenge porn and digital blackmailing.