Government Strengthens Online Safety for Children with Stricter Action Against Child Sexual Abuse Material on Social Media

The article details the Indian government's efforts to enhance online safety for children, particularly against Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and harmful AI-generated content like deepfakes. It highlights the stringent framework established by the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Recent amendments to the IT Rules mandate stricter obligations for social media intermediaries, including reduced timelines for content removal, clear labeling and traceable metadata for AI-generated content, and proactive measures against unlawful material. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is also involved, and intermediaries face loss of liability exemption under Section 79 of the IT Act if they fail to comply. The government has issued advisories and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to guide platforms and law enforcement.