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Supreme Court Orders National Abuse Database and Strict Child Safety Measures Online
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Moneycontrol•17-10-2026, 21:22
Supreme Court Orders National Abuse Database and Strict Child Safety Measures Online
- •The Supreme Court directed the Centre to establish a National Hash and URL List Database to track and swiftly remove child sexual exploitation and abuse material from online platforms.
- •Social media intermediaries face tighter deadlines, with a mandatory two-hour reporting window for newly detected abusive content and strict requirements for grievance handling.
- •The court proposed exemplary monetary penalties and the forfeiture of revenues for platforms that repeatedly violate legal obligations regarding prohibited content.
- •Schools are instructed to introduce age-appropriate lessons on bodily safety, consent, digital risks, and online grooming as part of their core curriculum.
- •Educational institutions and platforms must prominently display helpline numbers and implement strict filters, while governments are tasked with running widespread awareness campaigns and providing victim support.
Key Questions Answered
The Supreme Court directed the Union government to establish a National Hash and URL List Database to store digital identifiers and web addresses of verified child sexual exploitation and abuse material.
Platforms must acknowledge complaints within 24 hours with a tracking number, appoint trained grievance officers, and report newly detected or removed CSEAM material within two hours.
The Supreme Court directed schools to introduce age-appropriate lessons at the primary level covering consent, bodily safety, safe and unsafe touch, and digital risks.
