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. Specifically, I want to know how Information Technology Act, 2000 – Section 67B applies to a situation like mine and what the cyber law position in India actually is. If there is a deadline I should be aware of, I need to know that now.

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. Outcomes in csam reporting disputes depend heavily on documentation, so check what you can actually evidence as you read.

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 you are unsure whether your facts fall inside Information Technology Act, 2000 – Section 67B, that is worth checking with an advocate before you commit to a route, because switching later costs time. 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 cyber law.

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.