Supreme Court Judgment
The Supreme Court of India ruled against online child sexual abuse, correcting a previous Madras High Court decision that minimized the seriousness of downloading child pornography.
Redefinition of CSEAM
The court shifted the focus from "child pornography" to "Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material" (CSEAM), framing it as a serious crime rather than a mere adult indulgence.
New Provisions
The ruling made downloading and storing CSEAM an offense and imposed strict responsibilities on social media platforms to comply with Indian laws regarding child safety.
Key Actions Proposed
The government must implement effective measures for child protection, including defining cybercrime laws to include CSEAM and ensuring support for child victims.
Platforms must report CSEAM in real-time to law enforcement.
Establish labs with advanced technology for quick responses to CSEAM reports.
Maintain a database of offenders to prevent them from working with children.
International Coordination
A coordinated international approach is essential, as CSEAM is a global issue.
A legally binding convention is needed to enhance cooperation among countries to combat CSEAM and protect children.
Long-term Impact
This judgment can change India's approach to child protection and set a precedent for global action against child exploitation.
It offers a framework for nations to take decisive steps toward safeguarding children and dismantling networks that exploit them.
COMMENTS