NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Centre and all states and union territories over the reported increase of 250-300% in Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) on social media in India as per a media report. A detailed report has been sought from the authorities within six weeks on the steps taken to prevent such a menace on social media.
“The Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that CSAM has increased by 250-300% on social media in India. Reportedly, the CSAM contents are from foreign, and the Indian Investigation Agencies have not come across any Indian-made CSAM so far,” the NHRC said in a press statement.
The Commission has observed that the content of the media report, if true, amount to a violation of human rights relating to the life, liberty and dignity of citizens, and protection of young children from the danger of sexual abuse on social media.
“Accordingly, the Commission has issued notices to the Delhi police commissioner, director generals of the police of all the states/UTs, the director of the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), and the secretary of the ministry of electronics and information technology, calling for a detailed report in the matter within six weeks on the steps taken to prevent such a menace on social media,” the NHRC elaborated in its statement.
According to the media report, published in a newspaper on May 15 that the NHRC has taken cognizance of, about 4,50,207 cases of spread of child sexual abuse material, have been reported in the year 2023, so far. There were reportedly 2,04,056 cases reported in 2022, 1,63,633 in 2021 and 17,390 in 2020 of CSAM on social media in India.
The NHRC asserts that it has been concerned about the ill effects of online child sexual abuse material on human rights. “It may cost irreparable psychological damage to children, impacting their growth and development,” the Commission observes with concern.
In March the Commission had organized a national seminar on CSAM in Delhi where stakeholders came together to dwell on the problem and ways to check the menace. It is learnt that the NHRC is studying and collating the suggestions and observations made at the meeting to see if a set of recommendations can be drawn from the discussions steered by experts and stakeholders.
Recognising the seriousness of the problem during the pandemic, the Commission had also issued a human rights advisory for the protection of the rights of children in the context of Covid-19 in September 2020 and June 2021 where it made recommendations to the concerned authorities regarding cybercrime and online safety of children.
“The Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that CSAM has increased by 250-300% on social media in India. Reportedly, the CSAM contents are from foreign, and the Indian Investigation Agencies have not come across any Indian-made CSAM so far,” the NHRC said in a press statement.
The Commission has observed that the content of the media report, if true, amount to a violation of human rights relating to the life, liberty and dignity of citizens, and protection of young children from the danger of sexual abuse on social media.
“Accordingly, the Commission has issued notices to the Delhi police commissioner, director generals of the police of all the states/UTs, the director of the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), and the secretary of the ministry of electronics and information technology, calling for a detailed report in the matter within six weeks on the steps taken to prevent such a menace on social media,” the NHRC elaborated in its statement.
According to the media report, published in a newspaper on May 15 that the NHRC has taken cognizance of, about 4,50,207 cases of spread of child sexual abuse material, have been reported in the year 2023, so far. There were reportedly 2,04,056 cases reported in 2022, 1,63,633 in 2021 and 17,390 in 2020 of CSAM on social media in India.
The NHRC asserts that it has been concerned about the ill effects of online child sexual abuse material on human rights. “It may cost irreparable psychological damage to children, impacting their growth and development,” the Commission observes with concern.
In March the Commission had organized a national seminar on CSAM in Delhi where stakeholders came together to dwell on the problem and ways to check the menace. It is learnt that the NHRC is studying and collating the suggestions and observations made at the meeting to see if a set of recommendations can be drawn from the discussions steered by experts and stakeholders.
Recognising the seriousness of the problem during the pandemic, the Commission had also issued a human rights advisory for the protection of the rights of children in the context of Covid-19 in September 2020 and June 2021 where it made recommendations to the concerned authorities regarding cybercrime and online safety of children.