How to file a Cyber Crime Complaint Online in India Against Cyberbullying?

In the age of digital transformation, everybody remains online on social media platforms. It is not the trend for young ones, it is the trend for everybody from the grown up to the old people. They remain socially active on their preferred platform. It is noticed that they face identity theft issues and their social media platform gets hacked by some imposters. Some hackers affect various digital communicational channels are threaten, humiliating, and harming others by posting morally disheartening images, texts, videos, and some fake or true personal images or videos. All these are criminal activities and critical offenses. These victims have the legal right to report it and seek justice.

This comprehensive guide will explain how to file a cybercrime complaint online in India against cyberbullying, with the coverage of the legal framework, the steps involved, and the way to solve the issues of the victims related to online mental and social harassment.

Legal Framework for Cyberbullying in India

5. Section 66A of the IT Act (Cancelled Officially): This section of the rule deals with sharing false information by using electronic media or the internet. However, this section is declared unconstitutional as this is considered a violation of freedom of speech. Apart from this section, the act is continued.
6. Section 66C of the IT Act: This section of the BNS deals with identity theft and cyber impersonation. Anybody can copy the identity of another person and create a profile on any social media claiming the same person and harassing the other person who is genuine. By creating such an account, a person can also share false and caricature posts, and if anybody does this, they may be penalized.
7. Section 66D of the IT Act: this section acts on the cheating and personation of someone that may be harmful for social or mental repute. If anybody wants to defame a person through this process may be penalized or punished by this act. 
8. Section 507 of the BNS: By applying anonymous communication, a criminal can carry on their process of intimidation to anybody and can be penalized or punished through this act. The threats and bullying by any anonymous identity convert the act.
5. Section 354D of the IPC: This section deals with online stalking and harassment through digital media.

WHAT is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is the harassment of people by using digital platforms through the way of harassing, threatening, and making others embarrassed by some offensive cyber activities. Posting personal information, personal or vulgar images, impersonal fake videos, etc. are also irritating and social dignity destroying. Videos, images, or content created only for the intention of harassing a targeted person also come under cyberbullying. Let’s see the highlighting points:

• Sending abusive, threatening, or defamatory messages
• Sharing private photos or videos without consent
• Posting false information or spreading rumors
• Cyberstalking or repeated online harassment

Impersonating someone online

You have to keep in mind that prevention of cyberbullying is highly essential for the victims so that they do not have to pass through life with stress, emotional exploitation, depression, anxiety, etc. It may also lead to the victim to commit suicide. So, the respective department should take immediate action and keep the victim in special mental care.

How to File a Cyber Crime Complaint Online in India against Cyberbullying?

India has taken significant steps to empower citizens to report cybercrimes to the specific department. Cyberbullying is also a part of cybercrime but is treated in some specific sections of the act in the BMS. Filling a complaint online is not only part of the solution, you must keep track of how the progress is carried forward, and how the government is performing its part. Here is the step-by-step guide on how you should file a cybercrime complaint involved in cyberbullying.

Collect Specific Evidence of Cyberbullying

Before the submission of any complaint, you must collect sufficient evidence in your support. Without evidence, no complaint stands for long. Law and rules work only on evidence. So, collect as much evidence as you can in support of the crime that happened as cyberbullying. The investigating department will only work on appropriate action. Otherwise, the complaint will automatically be nullified and void.

Before filing a complaint, learn which evidence is highly essential to collect:

• Screenshots: Collect screenshots of the posts (image or video), emails texts messages, or comments.
• URLs: You have to collect the URLs of the website or social platforms where you have noticed the bullying post
• Chat logs: If there is any email correspondence that you can show as a demonstration of the harassment or threats.
• Audio/Video recordings: If you can collect any audio or video in support of your complaint, such as the threat or abuse, it will be great proof of your cyberbullying complaint.
• IP Address: It is not always possible to collect the IP address of the system from which the crime is committed. However, if you can track the IP address, it will be a better step for you.

These are the main documents (but not limited to) that should be collected from the special circumstantial cybercrime related to documents. The more detailed and clear the evidence, the stronger the case will be.

Report the Incident to the Cyber Crime Portal

The government of India has created a department called the Ministry of Home Affairs which has established the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. The URL of the portal is (https://cybercrime.gov.in). The victim of cyberbullying can raise a complaint through this portal. This goes directly to the law enforcement agencies of the portal. The victims can raise a complaint both in Hindi and English, and they can file complaints about various types of cybercrimes.

Steps To File A Complaint On Cybercrime Portal For Cyberbullying:

Visit the portal: visit the official site of the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. The URL is mentioned above section.

• Type of complaint: you have to select the type of complaint from the portal and select. Find the “File a Complaint” option and then “Cybercrime”. And choose cyberbullying. When you choose this option, you will also get a submenu to put the type or category of cyberbullying. Choose the option “Defamation” or “Harassment”.
• Register an Account: When you select “File a Complaint”, you will be redirected to register your details. You have to provide your name, existing mobile number, email ID, and some personal details. After registration, you have to log in to your profile to raise a complaint.
• Fill out the complaint form online: You will get the required field in detail. Along with your details, you have to provide the nature of the complaint, the date of the incident, other relevant details, and so on. You also have to submit the extra evidence if there is any in support of your complaint. It is the part of the complaint.
• Complaint Submission: Once you have filled out the form with the necessary documents, you have to submit it by clicking on the submit option. As soon as you do it, you will receive an acknowledgment number. You can track the progress of your complaint regarding cyberbullying through this acknowledgment number. Submit and wait for resolution.

Filing a Complaint with the Local Police Station

If you are unable to file a complaint online, but the situation is utterly critical, you can visit the nearest police station. Many police station has special cybercrime departments that are equipped with collecting information and sending the data to the specific departments to file a complaint. If you want to file a complaint at the police station, you have to follow the strategy mentioned below:

• Visit the police station: visit the local police station and ask for the support of the cybercrime cell. Then learn how they can support you.
• Submit your complaint: Provide all the required documents and evidence to raise a complaint. Make sure that they have mentioned the relevant section of the case related to cyberbullying.
• Request a Copy of the Complaint: As soon as they have completed taking the complaint, you have to ask for a copy of the complaint with the case number or FIR number.

Report Cyberbullying on Social Media Platforms

Cyberbullying happens mainly through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram Twitter, WhatsApp, and so on. Report the account to the specific authorities and inform all your friends and relatives to report it and avoid the sites to entertain. Then the specific authority of the social media will act on it, and take the deception according to the importance of the cyberbullying and the fraudulent activity of the account. The specific social media platform will be potentially banned or suspended.

• Report via the mechanism of the platform: According to the type of bullying, you have to report to the specific mechanism. Select the report option and choose the essential category.
• Share evidence on social platforms: Some platforms ask for evidence, and screenshots or they take auto screenshots when complaining. Provide it and report.
• Contact Support Team: A lot of platforms have a support team to assist the members of social media. So, you can report to them to take action against the accounts that are involved in cyberbullying. If you need to escalate the matter to the higher de apartment, do it.

Seek Legal Help

If cyberbullying continues even after taking all necessary steps through cybercrime debarment, and they are not taking any fastest action, you can take legal action by appealing it to the court. Consult your lawyer about the proceedings to be taken in the current scenario.  

Steps to take after filing a cybercrime complaint

After filing a cybercrime complaint, you have to take some additional steps. Here are some of them.

• Follow up on the complaint: Use the acknowledgment number to check the status of the complaint and action taken on it. If there are no further proceedings followed, you have to poke to the center where you have raised a complaint.
• Protect Your Online Identity:  whenever you use social media or any online account, you have to use the maximum security feature of the platform. Wherever possible, use two-factor security authentication, and enable high privacy settings on photos or any other option.
• Counseling and support: If the cyberbullying has caused significant mental, emotional, and social damage and sent you into great distress, you may require some counseling to recover your mental health. Life is one and you must enjoy a positive life. Share your concerns and take support.

Conclusion

Cyberbullying is a serious offense that damages personal reputation in society and the friend circle. It makes the victim isolated from society and sometimes leads to sell-killing or suicidal effects. Personal secret images or videos may be outburst everywhere and people cannot live in prestige. So, whenever anybody notices cyberbullying from anybody around you or anywhere, you can also take action to save the prestige of the victims. If anybody has been suffering from any type of cyberbullying, follow the mentioned process and get support from the cybercrime department. Take the support of police if there is any criminal found locally and caught red-handed.

If you want to raise a cyberbullying complaint, you can contact Online Legal India, the most authentic legal assistance-providing company in India. Contact us now.