NHRC notice to Centre, states, UTs over child sexual abuse material on social media

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National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to Centre, States and Union Territories over the reported increase of 250-300 percent in child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on social media.

In its notices to Commissioner of Police, Delhi, the Director Generals of the Police of all the States/UTs, the Director, the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), and the Secretary, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Commission has asked a detailed report in the matter within six weeks on the steps taken to prevent such menace on social media, NHRC said in a statement.

The Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that the circulation of CSAM has increased by 250 to 300 percent on social media. Reportedly, the CSAM contents are from foreign, and the Indian Investigation Agencies have not come across any Indian-made CSAM so far, it said.

According to the media report, carried on May 15, about 450207 cases of spread of child sexual abuse material, have been reported in the year 2023, so far. Out of these, Delhi Police has taken action in 3039 cases. Of these, 447168 cases are currently being studied.

In some cases, even photographs taken lovingly, of young children by respective fathers, brothers and sisters in India have been classified as child sexual abuse by an American NGO. There were 204056 cases reported in the year 2022, 163633 in the year 2021, and 17390 in the year 2020 of child sexual abuse material on social media in India, the statement said.

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