If your private photo goes viral on the Internet, how can you get it removed? Know the important thing.

If something like this happens to you, there is no need to panic. Under cyber law in India and international digital rules, you are fully entitled to get such content removed and protect your privacy.

Nowadays, in the world of social media and the internet, it is not a new thing for anyone's private photo or video to go viral without permission. Many times this is done as a joke, revenge, or with the intention of cybercrime. But if something like this happens to you, there is no need to panic. Under cyber law in India and international digital rules, you are fully entitled to get such content removed and protect your privacy.

Do this first

First of all, you should keep all the screenshots and links (URLs) of that photo or video safe. These are used later as evidence in reporting or legal process. After this, there is an option to report directly on the website or social media platform on which your image is present. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit and YouTube take reports of "private content" seriously and if the photo has been posted without consent, then it is their responsibility to remove it.

You can take help from Google

Apart from this, you can also request Google to delete that link i.e. remove it from the search result. For this, Google's Remove Outdated Content Tool or "Personal Content Removal Request" form has to be filled. If your photo has been used without your permission, then you can also send a notice under DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) under copyright. Because the person who took the photo is its legal owner.

These tools will come in handy

Along with this, some special platforms like StopNCII.org and TakeItDown.org help you to get your photos removed from the Internet. They work without any fee and also keep your identity completely confidential. If you want, you can also check where else your photo has been posted with the help of reverse image search tools like Google Images or PimEyes.

This is how action will be taken in serious cases

If the matter is serious, such as deliberate defamation, threat or spreading obscene photos. Then a report should be lodged at the nearest cyber crime police station. In India, the culprits can be punished under sections 66E, 67 of the IT Act 2000 and different sections of BNS. Overall, it is important to be cautious about your privacy in today's digital world. But if your private content has gone viral by mistake or due to someone's intention, then you have many ways to get it removed and protect your rights.