{"id":366432,"date":"2025-11-12T14:00:47","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T08:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=366432"},"modified":"2025-11-12T13:23:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T07:53:06","slug":"meity-non-consensual-intimate-imagery-sop-24-hour-takedown-policy-scctimes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/11\/12\/meity-non-consensual-intimate-imagery-sop-24-hour-takedown-policy-scctimes\/","title":{"rendered":"MeitY introduces SOP mandating 24-Hour Deadline for Takedown of Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On 11-11-2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (‘MeitY’<\/span>) issued a Standard Operating Procedure (‘SOP’)<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a> to curb the spread of Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (‘NCII’)<\/span> across online platforms. The aims to establish clear, victim-centric procedures for the swift removal of such objectionable content and to protect digital dignity and privacy.<\/p>\n

Background:<\/h3>\n

This SOP was developed in compliance with the directions of the Madras High Court<\/span> in X v. Union of India<\/span>, 2025 SCC OnLine Mad 3310<\/a> (WP Civil No.25017\/2025, Order dated 15-7-2025).<\/p>\n

In the above-cited case, a woman advocate’s private, non-consensual intimate images and videos, captured without her consent, were uploaded, shared, re-uploaded, and distributed across various digital platforms.<\/p>\n

The Court directed the respondent to take urgent action within 48 hours to detect, remove, and block all online content depicting the advocate’s NCII. This included issuing takedown notices and directions to intermediaries, websites, pornographic platforms, and telecom providers.2<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Read More:<\/span> Inside Madras HC Ruling on removal of female advocate’s non-consensual intimate photos, videos from internet.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Court instructed the Ministry to “provide a prototype as to what a victim girl must do when faced with situations of dissemination of NCII content<\/span>”.<\/p>\n

Purpose:<\/h3>\n

The SOP marks a significant step in empowering individuals, especially women, to reclaim control over their digital identities and ensure a safer online environment. It reinforces the government’s commitment to upholding privacy, dignity, and safety in cyberspace.<\/p>\n

The SOP provides a structured process<\/a> for individuals, or their duly authorized representatives, to request the removal or disabling of access to any content hosted on intermediary platforms that violates their privacy. This includes guidance for approaching intermediaries, government agencies, or law enforcement, in accordance with:<\/p>\n