I found child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online, am I legally required to report it?

I came across content online that appears to sexually exploit a minor and I don't know what my legal duty is. I have been reading conflicting things online and I would like to understand what Indian law actually says about this, which Act and Section applies, what the realistic timelines and costs are, and what I should be doing right now to protect my position. If the matter can be resolved without litigation I would prefer that route, but I want to know what my rights are before I agree to anything or sign any document.

I found child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online, am I legally required to report it? is governed in India primarily by Information Technology Act, 2000 – Section 67B, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 – Section 19 and Information Technology Act, 2000 – Section 79. The short answer is set out below, followed by the practical steps most people in this situation need to take. Read it alongside the specific provisions named, because the exact relief available to you turns on the facts you can prove on paper.

Section 67B of the IT Act specifically criminalises publishing, browsing, downloading, or facilitating child sexual abuse material online, with punishment up to 5 years (first conviction) and up to 7 years for repeat offences, plus heavy fines.

Section 19 of the POCSO Act imposes a mandatory duty on any person, including you, to report knowledge of an offence against a child to the police or the Special Juvenile Police Unit — failure to report is itself punishable under Section 21 POCSO with up to 1 year imprisonment.

Intermediaries also have obligations under Section 79 IT Act read with the IT Rules, 2021 to deploy technology to proactively identify CSAM and remove it, failing which they lose safe-harbour protection from liability.

You can report CSAM directly and anonymously through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal's dedicated CSAM section, and to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) tip-line which Indian authorities also monitor.

Do not download, save or forward the content even for 'evidence' purposes, as possession itself is an offence — instead report the URL/link/account handle directly.

What to do next: 1) Do not download or forward the content under any circumstance; 2) Report the URL/account immediately at cybercrime.gov.in under the CSAM category; 3) Inform the nearest police station or Special Juvenile Police Unit as required under POCSO Section 19; 4) Keep only the link/screenshot of the reporting page as proof of your report, not the content itself.

If the other side has already issued a notice, filed a case or set a deadline, treat the matter as time-sensitive — most remedies under Information Technology Act, 2000 – Section 67B carry limitation periods, and a delay you cannot explain weakens an otherwise strong case. You can post the details on the MyVakeel forum for a practising advocate to review, or book a paid consultation with a Bar Council verified lawyer in this practice area.

Disclaimer: This information is for general awareness and does not constitute legal advice. Statutes and their interpretation change, and outcomes depend on the facts of your case. Please consult a qualified advocate before acting on it.