Published on: 02 December, 2025 12:56 IST
A purported MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) video allegedly featuring a social media influencer known as Sweet Zannat has caused an unprecedented stir across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Telegram in recent days. The viral content, reportedly a 19-minute-34-second private video, began circulating rapidly around November 27th. Sweet Zannat, who hails from Mahendraganj, Meghalaya, and shares daily life videos on Instagram under the ID @sweet_zannat_12374, has vehemently denied the authenticity of the video. On November 28th, she shared a clarification video claiming the content is a fraudulent AI Deepfake.
She urged viewers to compare her appearance and noted that the woman in the leaked video speaks English, which contrasts with her limited education (claiming she barely passed 12th grade). Ironically, the controversy has reportedly led to a surge in her social media followers.
The Dangerous Normalization of Sharing Leaked Content
A deeply concerning trend accompanying this leak is the alarming ease and frequency with which users are demanding and sharing links to the alleged pornographic video. This behavior reflects a dangerous normalization of distributing non-consensual intimate images (NCII) or sexually explicit deepfakes. This cavalier attitude towards sharing private and potentially damaging content is not only a gross violation of an individual’s privacy and dignity, but it also fosters a toxic online environment, especially for women, and contributes to cyberbullying and victim shaming. The trend treats the trauma of a leak as mere entertainment or a commodity to be traded, posing a significant risk to the moral fabric and safety of society.
Severe Legal Repercussions for Sharing Private Videos
Individuals who participate in the circulation of any non-consensual private video, whether it is genuine or a sophisticated deepfake, face severe legal consequences, particularly under Indian law, as sharing sexually explicit content without the consent of the individuals involved, or distributing digitally altered material intended to harass or defame, constitutes a serious criminal offense. Key legal provisions are primarily drawn from the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 (as amended), and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Under the IT Act, Section 66E specifically addresses the violation of privacy, punishing the capturing, publishing, or transmitting of a person’s private images without consent with potential imprisonment up to three years and a fine up to ₹2 lakh. Furthermore, Sections 67 and 67A cover the publishing and transmitting of obscene or sexually explicit material in electronic form, meaning that even distributing a link to material containing a “sexually explicit act” can lead to imprisonment ranging from five to seven years and a substantial fine upon first conviction.
Additionally, the IPC includes relevant sections such as Section 354C (Voyeurism), which imposes imprisonment up to three years and a fine for watching or capturing the image of a woman engaging in a private act, and Section 509, which addresses insulting the modesty of a woman through any word, gesture, or act, and carries a penalty of up to one year of imprisonment and a fine.
Crucially, merely requesting or circulating the link to such a video can be interpreted as abetting or participating in the illegal distribution, making even casual sharers liable for both imprisonment and financial penalties. Therefore, users must understand that sharing this type of content is a criminal act with serious real-world repercussions, not a trivial online pastime.