Stories
SC Gives Centre Final Warning on Curbing Child Sexual Abuse Material Online
- •The Supreme Court granted the Centre a final opportunity to explain steps taken to curb Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) online.
- •Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran directed MeitY and the Ministry of Law and Justice to file reports detailing implementation of the apex court's September 2024 judgment.
- •The plea was filed by Just Rights for Children Alliance (JRCA) seeking stronger enforcement of directions for social media intermediaries to report CSEAM.
- •The SC emphasized the seriousness of the matter, noting ministries failed to respond despite an August 14 directive.
- •The court seeks details on safeguards to prevent lapses by intermediaries in detecting and reporting CSEAM, with the next hearing on October 15.
Key Questions Answered
The Supreme Court gave the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Ministry of Law and Justice a final opportunity to file reports detailing the steps taken to implement its September 2024 judgment and prevent the circulation of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material on social media platforms.
The Just Rights for Children Alliance filed the plea seeking stronger enforcement of court directions requiring social media intermediaries to report CSEAM to law-enforcement authorities, following a BBC report alleging that Instagram hosted paid advertisements promoting such material.
Intermediaries are required to report CSEAM offences to prescribed authorities in accordance with Sections 19 to 21 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and Rule 11 of the POCSO Rules, as well as considerations related to safe-harbour protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act.
