Social Media Companies Misleading Indias Children, Claims NHRC Member Priyank Kanungo
NHRC member Priyank Kanungo criticizes social media firms for failing to report child sexual abuse cases as mandated by law.
New Delhi, October 15 (Daily Kiran) : Priyank Kanungo, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has raised serious concerns about the ongoing failure of social media companies to comply with Supreme Court directives regarding child sexual abuse cases. He accused these companies of deceiving children in India and misleading the nation.
In an interview, Kanungo highlighted the stringent laws in place, such as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), which mandates that local police must be notified of any sexual offenses against children. He pointed out that Section 19 of this law clearly states that social media companies are also obligated to report such incidents under Section 20. Furthermore, Rule 11 of the POCSO Act reinforces the requirement for local police to be informed about all crimes involving child sexual exploitation.
Kanungo expressed frustration that social media platforms often evade these responsibilities by appealing to higher courts. He noted that in 2024, the Supreme Court issued a clear directive stating that the obligation to inform local police is a legal requirement that cannot be ignored. However, compliance with this order remains elusive.
He stated, “Millions of children are being sexually exploited, and videos of these abuses are being circulated. We have witnessed instances where such videos were sold on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, generating revenue for Meta through advertisements. Instead of reporting these crimes, companies are using NGOs and expensive lawyers to navigate legal challenges. This is a betrayal of children, and the nation must be aware.”
Kanungo further criticized the tactics employed by social media firms, suggesting that they use expensive legal counsel and foreign-funded NGOs to circumvent the law. He lamented that, despite the legal provisions that include prison sentences for offenders, some individuals in the country continue to act in the interests of these companies rather than protecting children.
Earlier, Kanungo took to social media to reiterate that the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling has yet to be implemented. He emphasized that the POCSO law is explicit in requiring local police to be notified of complaints related to child sexual exploitation. Despite repeated directives from the Supreme Court, social media companies persist in avoiding compliance.
He questioned, “Why are these companies hesitant to report incidents of child sexual exploitation to local police? As children continue to suffer, why is there still a delay in enforcing a clear legal order?”
