Supreme Court judgment addressing CSEAM in India

Source: The post Supreme Court judgment addressing CSEAM in India has been created, based on the article “Supreme Court’s child sexual abuse verdict is a step forward” published in “Indian Express” on 24th October 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- Governance-mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

Context: The article discusses the Supreme Court’s recent judgment on child sexual exploitative and abuse material (CSEAM). It emphasizes the seriousness of the issue, India’s alarming involvement, and the need for strict action against both viewing and producing such content.

For detailed information on Supreme Court’s Verdict on CSEAM read Article 1, Article 2

What is the Supreme Court’s judgment on CSEAM?

The Supreme Court ruled that viewing child sexual exploitative and abuse material (CSEAM) is a serious offense. Even watching it once is a crime. The Court stated that demand for such material fuels its production, making the crime more heinous.

How widespread is CSEAM in India?

1. India leads the world in uploading Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM), according to reports.
2. The National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children reported 46,99,515 CSEAM videos uploaded in India.
3. Cases of child pornography rose significantly, from 44 in 2018 to 1,171 in 2022, as per National Crime Records Bureau data.
4. Local children, aged 5 to 16, are frequently involved, with covert videos taken using spy cameras.
5. Kerala Police seized over 200 devices containing illegal content, revealing growing CSEAM activity on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.

What actions have been taken to combat CSEAM?

1. MoU with NCMEC: India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), U.S. This agreement facilitates the receipt and analysis of Cyber Tipline Reports (CTR) related to CSEAM activities, which are shared with respective states for further action.
2. Kerala Police seized over 200 devices containing illegal content, revealing growing CSEAM activity on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.

How does CSEAM impact children?

CSEAM victims often don’t realize they’ve been exploited until much later. The knowledge that their abuse is being viewed repeatedly causes lifelong trauma. This exploitation affects all of society, as it perpetuates a culture of treating children as objects.

Way forward

While prosecuting offenders is essential, long-term prevention through sex education and awareness is crucial. Schools, governments, and law enforcement must work together to create safe environments for children online and offline.

Question for practice:

Examine the Supreme Court’s stance on viewing Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) and its impact on the production of such content.