A private video call was screen recorded and posted in India
Intimate content from a video call you believed was private has been screen recorded and distributed online. The recording itself is illegal in many jurisdictions in addition to the distribution being NCII.
IN
jurisdiction
Informat
primary statute
48 hr
TAKE IT DOWN Act window
Regulator power
enforcement route
Tl;dr
In India, this conduct is prosecuted under Information Technology Act sections 66E and 67/67A. The civil erasure route runs through Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 (right to erasure under section 12) and DPB India. Where the host platform is subject to US jurisdiction, the TAKE IT DOWN Act adds a 48 hour platform removal obligation in parallel.
Why this happens
Most video calling apps do not notify participants when the other party screen records. FaceTime, Zoom, Google Meet, and Snapchat all permit silent recording.
Screen recording of intimate calls is frequently used as a control tactic by partners or as a prelude to sextortion. The recording itself may have occurred months before the distribution.
Legal framework in India
Information Technology Act 2000 sections 66E (violation of privacy) and 67/67A (publishing or transmitting obscene or sexually explicit material), plus BNS section 77 (replacing IPC s.354C). Section 66E: up to 3 years imprisonment or fine up to INR 2 lakh. Section 67A: first conviction up to 5 years and INR 10 lakh fine, subsequent up to 7 years.
India layers IT Act criminal provisions, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita voyeurism offence, and the DPDP Act erasure right. The IT Rules 2021 impose a 24 hour intermediary takedown obligation specifically for non consensual intimate imagery, separate from the criminal route.
Evidence to preserve
- The full call history showing the date, time, and other participant of every relevant call
- Full page screenshot of every URL where the recording appears
- Any messages from the other participant before, during, or after the call
- The application used for the call, which determines what server side records may be available
Do not: Do not delete the call history or block the perpetrator's number before evidence is preserved. The call records establish the underlying recording event.
Five step removal process
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1
Preserve all evidence first
The full call history showing the date, time, and other participant of every relevant call. Full page screenshot of every URL where the recording appears.
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2
File the Information Technology Act sections 66E and 67/67A criminal complaint
Report to local police or the national cybercrime unit. Cyber Crime Reporting Portal can assist.
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3
Submit an erasure request under Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 (right to erasure under section 12)
Each major platform has a designated data protection contact. The request must cite the legal basis and identify the URLs. The platform has 30 days to respond. DPB India accepts complaints for non compliance.
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4
Run a biometric scan to find every additional copy
Content posted to one platform is rarely confined to one platform. ScanErase identifies every current hosting location in a single scan, including mirror copies and AI generated variants.
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5
File TAKE IT DOWN Act notices for covered platforms
Use your scan report to file the federal 48 hour notice yourself, in parallel with your domestic rights. The two regimes are cumulative, not exclusive.
Statutory citations to include in your complaint
- Information Technology Act 2000 sections 66E (violation of privacy) and 67/67A (publishing or transmitting obscene or sexually explicit material), plus BNS section 77 (replacing IPC s.354C)
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 (right to erasure under section 12)
- US TAKE IT DOWN Act for any covered platform
- State recording consent statutes which require all party consent in 12 states
- State NCII statutes covering the distribution of recorded intimate content
Frequently asked questions
Is screen recorded call a crime in India?
Yes. Information Technology Act 2000 sections 66E (violation of privacy) and 67/67A (publishing or transmitting obscene or sexually explicit material), plus BNS section 77 (replacing IPC s.354C) criminalises this conduct. Section 66E: up to 3 years imprisonment or fine up to INR 2 lakh. Section 67A: first conviction up to 5 years and INR 10 lakh fine, subsequent up to 7 years.
What evidence should a India victim of screen recorded call preserve?
The full call history showing the date, time, and other participant of every relevant call. Full page screenshot of every URL where the recording appears. Any messages from the other participant before, during, or after the call. The application used for the call, which determines what server side records may be available.
Does Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 (right to erasure under section 12) apply to this scenario?
Yes. Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 (right to erasure under section 12) gives the victim a direct erasure right against any platform processing the imagery. DPB India enforces non compliance.
What support is available in India for screen recorded call?
Cyber Crime Reporting Portal provides direct support to victims and can assist with both the criminal complaint and the platform removal process. Contact at https://cybercrime.gov.in.
Can a India victim also file a US TAKE IT DOWN Act notice?
Yes when the hosting platform is subject to US jurisdiction. The 48 hour federal removal obligation runs in parallel with rights under Information Technology Act sections 66E and 67/67A and Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 (right to erasure under section 12).
Remove every copy now
One scan. Coordinated removal under Information Technology Act sections 66E and 67/67A, Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 (right to erasure under section 12), and the TAKE IT DOWN Act.
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