Support someone facing online abuse
Practical help for harassment, impersonation, doxxing, intimate-image abuse, sexual threats or coordinated attacks—without blaming the person or taking over their accounts.
In this guide
Reduce pressure and restore control
Treat online harm as real harm
Threats, sexualised abuse, impersonation, deepfakes, non-consensual intimate material, account takeover and exposure of personal information can affect physical safety, work, education and health. Do not say ‘just log off’ or blame the person for posting, dating or trusting someone.
Ask before viewing or saving intimate material
Do not request that a survivor forward sexual images to prove what happened. If material must be documented, agree on who will handle it and how; never recirculate it in a group chat or to curious colleagues.
Let the targeted person choose the goal
They may want immediate safety, account recovery, removal, evidence preservation, a platform report, a cybercrime report, public correction or simply a break. These goals can conflict, so do not change passwords, block people or publish a defence without consent.
Help with a calm incident plan
Check for physical-world risk
Ask whether an address, workplace, school, route or live location is exposed and whether threats identify a time, place or weapon. For immediate danger use 112; help notify only the people needed for safety.
Preserve a limited, useful record
Capture full screens, profile and post URLs, usernames, dates, times, surrounding messages and platform report numbers. Use a secure location and divide the work so the targeted person does not have to repeatedly read abuse.
Secure from a trusted device
Review active sessions, recovery methods, forwarding rules and linked apps; use unique passwords and multi-factor authentication. If an abusive partner may monitor devices, make changes with a broader safety plan rather than creating a sudden alert.
Use platform and official routes strategically
Report the specific conduct under the platform’s relevant rule and retain the acknowledgement. The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal is an official reporting route; legal aid can help assess other processes without guaranteeing removal or a particular result.
Protect dignity and continued participation
Share safety information narrowly
Tell an employer, school, building security or family member only what they need to reduce risk. Do not expose more addresses, identities or private history while trying to defend the person publicly.
Moderate rather than debate attackers
Trusted helpers can document, block, mute or report in shifts with permission. Arguing with coordinated attackers often produces more exposure and is not a test of courage.
Keep work, study and community access open
Offer alternate contact channels, deadline flexibility, security adjustments and communications support. The institution should act on the perpetrators and risks rather than removing the targeted woman from public life.
Words you can use
Offering digital help
Someone is overwhelmed by messages or posts
“This is not your fault. Would you like me to document links, sit with you while you secure the account, or help report specific posts? I will not open or share anything without your permission.”
Related issue guides
Sources and publication record
Reviewed and approved by the project team · Sources checked .
- Information Technology Act, 2000India Code, Legislative Department
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023India Code, Legislative Department
- National Cyber Crime Reporting PortalIndian Cybercrime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs
- Free legal services and National Legal Aid Helpline 15100National Legal Services Authority
- Emergency Response Support System 112Ministry of Home Affairs