Victims face mental and social distress after recordings of live-streaming sessions are shared without consent; cybercrime cell initiates removal process
Shimla
A videos shared by women on social media and live-streaming applications to earn money are allegedly being recorded without their consent and uploaded to pornographic websites. The cybercrime cell in Shimla has received five such complaints over the past two months, raising concerns over online privacy and the misuse of digital content.
According to the complaints, private videos recorded during live-streaming sessions were uploaded to various websites without the women’s permission. In several cases, the victims discovered the videos months or even years after they were recorded, leaving them to deal with mental distress and social difficulties.
Police are investigating the complaints received by the Shimla cybercrime cell and have initiated the process of getting the videos removed from the websites concerned.
According to the police, victims sometimes learn about the circulation of their private videos long after the original live-streaming sessions. In some cases, they were informed by acquaintances or other people who came across the content online.
One of the complainants told the cybercrime cell that she had joined a live-streaming application to earn money and made around Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh over two to three years.
She later discovered that private videos from her live-streaming sessions had been uploaded to pornographic websites. She subsequently lodged a complaint through the cybercrime helpline, 1930.
Even when social media platforms or live-streaming applications do not provide an in-built recording option, users can record content displayed on a screen using another mobile phone or an external device. Such recordings can then be uploaded to websites or circulated online without the knowledge or consent of the person featured.
The unauthorised circulation of private videos can seriously compromise victims’ privacy and expose them to psychological and social consequences.
Users should remain cautious while broadcasting content online, as the absence of a recording option does not guarantee that a live session cannot be captured.
They should avoid sharing private activities, sensitive personal information or details that could reveal their identity. They should also refrain from sharing intimate content under pressure or in exchange for promises of higher earnings, gifts or bonuses.
If private videos are circulated without consent, victims should report the content to the relevant website or social media platform and approach the police or cybercrime cell for assistance in seeking its removal and initiating legal action. Complaints can also be registered through the cybercrime helpline at 1930.
