When Photography Becomes a Crime Addressed in Section 66E of the IT Act, 2000: In an age where smartphones double as surveillance tools and social media thrives on visual content, the line between casual documentation and privacy invasion has become dangerously thin. While photography is often seen as harmless, capturing or sharing someone’s image without consent especially in private settings—can be a criminal offense under Indian law. Let’s explore Section 66E of the Information Technology Act, 2000 , which specifically addresses this issue. What Does Section 66E Say? “Whoever, intentionally or knowingly captures, publishes or transmits the image of a private area of any person without his or her consent, under circumstances violating the privacy of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years , or with fine not exceeding two lakh rupees , or with both .” This provision criminalizes the act of violating someone’s bodily privacy through d...