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Karnataka's Standing Order 1061: New Guidelines on Digital Privacy and Cybercrime

Wednesday, June 17, 2026
5 min read
Karnataka's Standing Order 1061: New Guidelines on Digital Privacy and Cybercrime

A massive new directive just dropped from Karnataka. It’s called Standing Order 1061 .

It came from the Director General and Inspector General of Police. A big move, they say. Trying to lock down digital privacy and seriously tackle those cybercrimes specifically targeting women.

The guidelines are strict. Legally binding, that is. They cover everything from unauthorized recordings, revenge pornography, all the way to sextortion. It officially dated June 15th, 2026. Just setting a timeline for how things have to change in law enforcement dealing with digital intimacy and privacy violations.

The core idea they hammered home? Consent doesn't automatically equal permission to share or spread something. That’s the line they drew: “The consent given to capture a photograph or video is totally separate from the consent needed to disseminate it.” It sounds simple, but ignoring that distinction sharing media without explicit permission that turns into a serious offense now.

This means police stations have to act fast. If a victim comes forward with complaints about leaked private media, blackmail, sextortion, or revenge porn? They have to register an FIR immediately. No more excuses. That’s the mandate.

The framework touches on some heavy legal stuff too. They are using both the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 , and the old Information Technology Act . It’s a real mix of old law meeting new digital reality.

Penalties under the New Framework

Look at what the actual penalties look like under these rules.

  • Section 77 of the BNS deals with voyeurism capturing or publishing images of a woman in private acts without her okay. That carries prison time, one to three years for a first offense, and three to seven if it happens again.
  • Section 66E of the IT Act punishes intentionally violating privacy by capturing or sending pictures of someone's private parts without consent. Three years in jail or a hefty fine up to two lakh rupees.
  • Don't forget those sections covering transmitting obscene material electronically, Sections 67 and 67A. That means fines up to five lakh or ten lakh for spreading explicit content online.

Procedural Mandates and Victim Protection

It’s not just about the immediate crime. There’s this huge hurdle victims face daily: police officers refusing to file a case because the victim supposedly aGreed to the recording beforehand. The DGP was blunt here. They said that excuse is dead. An FIR cannot be denied or delayed simply because consent for the video existed.

The instructions aren't just about filing papers, though. Police are now ordered to hit back at the platforms themselves. Immediate notices need to go out to those digital entities under the IT Rules of 2021 . They have to demand swift removal and blocking of that harmful content. Gotta stop the spread immediately.

And then there’s the side of protecting the victims themselves. Standing Order 1061 insists on strict confidentiality. The identity of anyone involved must be guarded. And this is important: when investigating these cases involving women, statements need to be handled carefully. Wherever possible, it has to go through female police officers.

Investigations won't just rely on paperwork anymore. They’re getting real support from digital forensics . Coordination with the Cyber Crime Police Station and that Forensic Wing needs to be tight. They have to use advanced digital tools for these digs.

The final word from the top was a warning. Any officer caught dragging their feet, acting negligently, engaging in some kind of moral policing that’s going to result in serious departmental action. Or worse. Compromising a victim's privacy? That gets them disciplined hard. It’s a stern line drawn across the board.

Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board

Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.

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