Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII) | UPSC CSE

Why in News: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) to strengthen India’s response mechanism against the circulation of Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII) — including intimate, morphed, or deepfake images shared online without consent.

This framework establishes a victim-centric, time-bound, and coordinated approach for swift removal of such content, mandating takedown within 24 hours of reporting.

What is NCII?

Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII) refers to any private, intimate, or sexually explicit image or video of an individual that is shared, created, or modified (morphed/deepfaked) and circulated online without consent.
It includes both real and digitally altered content that violates privacy and dignity.

Key Features of the SoP

1. Uniform National Framework: Provides clear operational procedures for victims, intermediaries, and law enforcement agencies.
2. 24-Hour Takedown Rule: Online platforms (social media or content-sharing intermediaries) must remove or disable access to reported NCII content within 24 hours of receiving a valid complaint.
3. Victim-Centric Approach: Ensures confidentiality, psychological counselling, and legal aid through support centres and online portals.

Multiple Reporting Avenues for Victims

Victims can report NCII-related content through any of the following channels:

• One Stop Centres (OSCs): Provide on-ground assistance including help in filing complaints on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), legal aid, and psychological counselling.
• Intermediaries: Victims can report directly through in-app reporting tools or contact the Grievance Officer of the concerned platform.
• National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP):
  • Website: cybercrime.gov.in
  • Helpline: 1930 Enables individuals to report cybercrimes, including NCII cases.
• Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs): Victims can lodge a First Information Report (FIR) or complaint at local police stations for immediate on-ground intervention.

Institutional Coordination and Oversight

• Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), MHA: Acts as the central aggregator for NCII complaints.
  • Maintains a secure NCII hash bank (database of flagged images) to prevent re-uploads of the same content.
• Department of Telecommunications (DoT):
  • Works with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block offending URLs and domains.
• MeitY:
  • Monitors compliance by intermediaries and oversees inter-agency coordination.

Source: PIB

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