Stop! These common Google searches could trigger legal action against you…

In today’s digital world, the internet has become an almost essential part of our daily lives. Whenever we have a question, the first place we look is often Google. Whether it is simple information or complex instructions, we type it in the search bar, and Google provides us the answers. However, recent reports have reminded us that some questions can be very dangerous. If you are an India(BHARAT)n citizen, and have just started to use Google recently, then you must read this post. A recent notice published in some of the leading national newspapers, after all, warns us that some searches on Google are not innocent at all, they can become a threat to national security, and can invite the action of the law-enforcing agencies upon you.

So if you have a habit of Googling just for the sake of curiosity, then read this post carefully and think twice before you hit that enter button.

Types of Google Searches You Must Avoid

In this post, we will list down the most common of such Google searches which, according to the most recent report, have continued to be criminal and/or dangerous.

“How to make a bomb,” or any similar instructions for making weapons or explosives – A search for instructions on making a bomb or any weapon-making tutorial can be a potential threat to national or public security. Such searches are treated as an attempt to gain illegal knowledge or instructions and are monitored by the Security Agencies as a matter of national security.

Child pornography or any sexually exploitative material involving minors – This is a very serious offense. Searching for or viewing child pornography, or any material that is sexually exploitative to children, is an offense which is illegal in almost all countries of the world. In many cases, even accidental viewing, or simple curiosity-driven search, can invite inquiry against you, under the child protection laws of your country.

Hacking tutorials or tools for Cybercrime – Searches related to hacking, instructions for breaking into other people’s systems, or tools and software that can be used to perpetrate digital crime or wrongdoing, can be treated as preparation for cybercrime. In many countries, including India(BHARAT), such searches are considered suspicious and actionable under both criminal law as well as cyber-security law.

Movie piracy or how to access pirated movies and media – Searching for “free movies download” or searching for sites that illegally stream or offer pirated media, even if you don’t download or access it, can land you in serious trouble. Such searches are actionable and can invite legal action against you under the laws that deal with copyright infringement, i.e. the Intellectual-property law.

In addition, some reports also list searches for illicit drugs, the dark web, and other such instructions for committing illegal acts. The reason for this is that with the advancement of technology and digital law-enforcing systems, law-enforcing agencies are now able to easily and legally track suspicious online activities, which include your search history, as well as your IP address, online activity, and many other details.

Why some searches can lead to serious trouble?

Google, or for that matter, any other Search Engine, provides easy access to a vast storehouse of information. It can help you research your doubts or curiosities about history, science, culture, language, hobbies, or entertainment. But it can also, easily and with great efficiency, put you in serious trouble with the law-enforcing agencies.

In our contemporary world, with the advancement of Artificial Intelligence technology, and sophisticated monitoring, tracking and surveillance software, with many governments and law-enforcing agencies, most internet-based activities can be monitored, tracked, recorded and traced, including your searches, online activities, your browsing history and your social media account activities.

If a search or activity raises a suspicion (and if a search uses certain keywords or suspicious patterns of searching) then it may invite investigation, questioning or action against you, as per the relevant laws of your country. This may be the case even if you haven’t actually committed any crime, but merely searched for instructions, or have viewed or clicked on an illegal content.

In India(BHARAT), laws on cybercrime, terrorism, copyright, and possession or access to child content, are strong and are being strictly enforced, so the consequences of such searches can be serious and harsh.

How to Google Safely?

To put it simply – THINK, before you GOOGLE. Don’t put everything on a search bar. If it is about making weapons, killing people, or if it is illegal, then just DON’T. Avoid being reckless with curiosity. Also – do not search for, view, or click on:

Sexually exploitative or abusive content involving children.

Illegal hacking tools, or websites and content that promote hacking or digital wrongdoing.

Illegal downloads, file-sharing, or sites that offer pirated media and movies.

Use the internet only for good. If you want to learn something, or to be entertained, then use good and verified and sources such as authentic educational platforms, legal streaming services, trusted forums, and good libraries.

Every country has its own cyber laws and regulations which are strictly implemented. The same curiosity might be criminal or illegal in one country and not so in another.

The internet and Search Engines like Google have made it possible for us to have all kinds of knowledge at our fingertips. We can research history, or learn a new language, or can know more about science, culture, hobbies, entertainment or movies. But with that comes a certain amount of responsibility.

It is high time that we understood that a random and casual Google search – done out of curiosity – can get you in serious legal trouble. In 2025, with increasing restrictions on the internet and increased cyber monitoring and digital surveillance systems around the world, cybercrime, or illegal and inappropriate online behavior is being taken very seriously by all countries. So if you are an internet user, you need to learn how to use the internet, how to Google safely, and how to be responsible, ethical and legal while browsing the internet. A moment of curiosity is never worth your freedom.