Cyber Crime Published & Fact-Checked 1 Sept 2026

Is sharing or taking screenshots of private WhatsApp chats a punishable crime in India?

Verified Legal Answer • Reviewed by Hire Your Vakeel Legal Panel (Updated for 2026 / BNS & BNSS)

Leaking private chats to defame, blackmail, or violate personal privacy is actionable under Section 66E (privacy violation), Section 72 of the IT Act (breach of confidentiality), and Section 356 BNS (criminal defamation). However, producing authentic screenshots as evidence in court is legally permissible under Section 63 of Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA 2023).

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