I'm being blackmailed after a video call, what should I do about this sextortion?

Someone recorded a compromising video call with me and is now demanding money to not leak it. Specifically, I want to know how Information Technology Act, 2000 – Section 66E 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'm being blackmailed after a video call, what should I do about this sextortion? is governed in India primarily by Information Technology Act, 2000 – Section 66E, Information Technology Act, 2000 – Section 67A, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 – Section 308 (extortion) and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 – Section 351 (criminal intimidation). Outcomes in sextortion disputes depend heavily on documentation, so check what you can actually evidence as you read.

Sextortion is extortion under Section 308 BNS (up to 7 years imprisonment) combined with Section 66E/67A of the IT Act for the unauthorised recording and threat to publish private images.

Do not pay the blackmailer — payment rarely stops the demands and instead confirms you are a paying target, encouraging repeated extortion.

The 1930 cyber helpline and cybercrime.gov.in have a dedicated fast-track process for sextortion given how time-sensitive these cases are; most such accounts operate from outside India and platforms can be asked to preserve/remove content urgently.

Under Section 351 BNS, the threat itself (even before any payment or leak) is criminal intimidation and can be reported immediately without waiting for the content to actually be published.

Police cyber cells can request platforms like WhatsApp/Instagram/Facebook to disable the account and preserve logs for investigation under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty process if the account is foreign-based.

In practice, in this order: 1) Stop all communication and do not make any payment; 2) Block the number/account but save screenshots and chat logs first; 3) Report immediately at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930; 4) Inform a trusted family member/friend so you are not isolated during the process.

Timing matters here: Information Technology Act, 2000 – Section 66E works on limitation periods, so a sextortion claim that is right on the merits can still fail if it is brought late. 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.