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The standing order explicitly states that a person’s consent to be photographed or recorded does not automatically mean consent to share or distribute that content.
The standing order mandates that police stations must immediately register a First Information Report (FIR) whenever a victim comes forward with complaints involving leaked private media, blackmail, sextortion, or revenge porn. (AI generated image)
In a major move to protect digital privacy and crack down on cybercrimes targeting women, the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) of Karnataka has issued a comprehensive new directive, “Standing Order 1061″.
The order establishes strict, legally binding guidelines for police officers handling cases involving unauthorized recordings, revenge pornography, and sextortion. The directive, officially dated June 15, 2026, aims to bridge critical gaps in how law enforcement deals with digital intimacy and privacy violations.
It explicitly states that a person’s consent to be photographed or recorded does not automatically mean consent to share or distribute that content. “The consent given to capture a photograph/video and the consent given to share/disseminate it are entirely different.”
The order warns that ignoring this distinction or sharing such media without explicit permission constitutes a cognizable offence.
Zero Tolerance for Sextortion and Revenge Porn
The standing order mandates that police stations must immediately register a First Information Report (FIR) whenever a victim comes forward with complaints involving leaked private media, blackmail, sextortion, or revenge porn.
The directive outlines specific legal provisions to ensure strict prosecution under both the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000.
Under Section 77 of the BNS, 2023, voyeurism – including capturing or publishing images of a woman engaged in a private act without her consent – carries a prison sentence of one to three years for a first offence, and three to seven years for subsequent offences.
Further, Section 66E of the IT Act penalises the intentional violation of privacy through the capturing, publishing, or transmission of images of a person’s private parts without consent, with punishment of up to three years in prison or a fine of up to Rs 2 lakh.
Transmitting obscene or sexually explicit material electronically under Sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act can attract imprisonment ranging from three to seven years, along with fines of up to Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, respectively.
Prior Consent Cannot Be Used to Reject FIRs
The order directly addresses a common hurdle faced by victims: police officers refusing to register a case because the victim had originally agreed to the recording of the photo or video. The DGP has made it clear that this excuse will no longer be tolerated. “An FIR cannot be denied or delayed simply because prior consent was given to record the video.”
To prevent further harm, police have been instructed to issue immediate notices to relevant digital platforms under the IT Rules, 2021, seeking swift removal and blocking of the offending content.
To encourage more victims to come forward without fear of social stigma, Standing Order 1061 mandates strict confidentiality. The identity of the victim must be protected at all times, and statements or investigations involving female victims should, wherever possible, be handled by women police officers.
Investigations will also be supported through advanced digital forensics in coordination with the Cyber Crime Police Station and the Cyber Forensic Wing.
The DGP concluded the directive with a stern warning: any officer found delaying an FIR, acting negligently, engaging in moral policing, or compromising a victim’s privacy will face strict departmental and disciplinary action.
About the Author
Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India’s space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and R…Read More
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