Ministry Issues SOP for Swift Removal of Intimate Imagery Online; 24-Hour Takedown Rule Introduced

Ziraat Times News Desk

New guidelines strengthen digital safety, victim rights and accountability of social media intermediaries

New Delhi: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has unveiled a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at curbing the online spread of Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII) — including intimate or morphed images shared without consent. The move seeks to ensure swift, victim-centric action against such content and reinforce government efforts to safeguard privacy, dignity, and safety in cyberspace.

Issued in compliance with directions of the Madras High Court (W.P. No. 25017/2025), the SOP establishes uniform procedures for prompt removal of NCII content and operationalises Rule 3(2)(b) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

24-Hour Takedown Mandate

Under the new framework, all online intermediaries must remove flagged content within 24 hours of receiving a complaint. Significant Social Media Intermediaries (SSMIs) are additionally required to deploy hash-matching and crawler technologies to prevent the reappearance of the same or similar content. Platforms must also coordinate with government portals such as Sahyog under the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C).

Multiple Avenues for Victims

The SOP provides several routes for victims to seek assistance:

• One Stop Centres (OSCs) for reporting, legal aid, and counselling.

• National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) or helpline 1930.

• In-app reporting tools and grievance officers of the concerned intermediaries.

• Local police stations for immediate law enforcement action.

Strengthened Inter-Agency Coordination

The policy outlines a comprehensive inter-agency framework involving:

• MeitY to oversee compliance and coordination with platforms.

• I4C, MHA as the central aggregator maintaining a secure NCII hash bank.

• Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to work with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in blocking URLs hosting NCII content.

Empowering Individuals and Ensuring Accountability

Describing the SOP as a “major step towards reclaiming control over digital identities,” MeitY officials said the guidelines would help individuals — especially women — seek timely redressal and prevent further victimisation online. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to building a cyberspace grounded in dignity, privacy, and safety.