NCPCR Urges Social Media Giants to Shield Children from Online Dangers

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) held a meeting with major social media platforms to discuss child safety online. Topics included age verification, blocking child sexual abuse material, and mandatory KYC procedures. Platforms were asked to implement recommendations and provide an Action Taken Report within seven days.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) convened a significant meeting with leading social media platforms to tackle pressing issues regarding online child safety and to develop robust protection measures.

Representatives from tech giants including Google, YouTube, Meta, and others gathered to deliberate on crucial subjects such as age verification methods, tools to detect and block Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), and support for law enforcement agencies. The aim was to enhance protective measures and ensure a safer online environment for children.

The NCPCR emphasized the need for mandatory Know Your Customer (KYC) processes to confirm user identities and enforce reporting of CSAM under the POCSO Act, 2012. The Commission also highlighted the necessity of parental consent for minors' social media usage and urged platforms to collaborate with national and international bodies by providing detailed reports on child exploitation cases. An Action Taken Report is expected within a week.

(With inputs from agencies.)