Supreme Court Demands Response on Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Material
Supreme Court directs Union Government to respond to petition urging strict adherence to 2024 rulings on reporting Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) to law enforcement.
Supreme Court’s Directive
The Supreme Court has directed the Union Government to provide a response to a petition urging strict adherence to its 2024 rulings mandating social media platforms to report Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) to law enforcement agencies. The court issued a notice to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Ministry of Law and Justice, while also instructing the petitioner to include relevant social media intermediaries in the legal proceedings.
Background of the Petition
The application was filed by the Just Rights for Children Alliance, which highlighted concerns over advertisements linked to child sexual abuse material on online platforms. The petition references the Supreme Court’s September 2024 judgment in *Just Rights for Children Alliance v. S. Harish*, which clarified the obligations of intermediaries under Sections 19 and 20 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
Key Contentions of the Petition
The petitioner argues that existing measures fail to ensure compliance with legal mandates and seeks enforcement of the court’s directives. A key contention in the plea is the inadequacy of reporting mechanisms that direct CSEAM findings solely to the U.S.-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The alliance asserts that Indian law requires such material to be reported to domestic authorities, including the Special Juvenile Police Unit or local police, as stipulated under the POCSO framework.
Court’s Order and Implications
The petition emphasizes the need for intermediaries to fully comply with domestic legal obligations rather than relying on foreign entities. The court has ordered the inclusion of social media platforms in the proceedings, signaling its intent to scrutinize whether current practices meet the standards set by the 2024 judgment. The case centers on the enforcement of mandatory reporting requirements for CSEAM and the adequacy of existing protocols under the POCSO Act.
Conclusion
The government’s response and the participation of intermediaries will shape the next phase of the legal review.
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