The Supreme Court has put the Union government on notice over alleged lapses by social media intermediaries in complying with statutory safeguards against child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM), including their obligation to report such offences to Indian law-enforcement authorities and ensure that particulars of offenders are promptly uploaded to the National Database of Sexual Offenders (NDSO).
A bench of justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran directed the Centre, through the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) and the ministry of law and justice, to respond to the concerns raised by NGO Just Rights for Children Alliance, which has approached the court in a pending matter concerning protection of children from online sexual exploitation. The court recalled its September 23, 2024 judgment, in which it had held that intermediaries cannot claim the safe-harbour protection available under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act merely by complying with the IT Act if they fail to comply with the mandatory requirement of the Pocso act .
Also Read I Transgender IDs to be valid till verdict is out on new law, govt tells Supreme Court The court said the issues brought before it were a matter of “serious concern” and merited its “full and anxious consideration”.
