3 weeks ago
NHRC issues notices to police, Meta over Instagram CSEAM cases
The National Human Rights Commission is a group in India that works to protect people's rights.
It found that more than 50 videos that hurt children were being shared on Instagram.
These bad videos are called Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material, or CSEAM for short.
The group sent letters to police leaders in eight states, asking them to look into the cases and take legal action.
It also sent a letter to Meta, the company that owns Instagram, telling it to follow Indian laws that keep children safe.
The group was upset that the Delhi police did not send a report on time, so it asked the police commissioner to come and explain.
Some paid ads on Instagram used bad words like 'rape video' and 'child video' to send people to another app called Telegram.
Mark Zuckerberg, the boss of Meta, said sorry for not keeping children safe on the company's platforms.
The Commission says stopping these bad videos is everyone's job and asks people to report them quickly.
It also says police must report such cases so that children can be protected.
The NHRC received over 50 complaints of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) on Instagram in the past week, with member Priyank Kanoongo sharing the information on X.
Notices were issued to the police chiefs of Punjab, Delhi, Telangana, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Haryana and Bihar, directing them to register FIRs and take appropriate legal action.
A notice was also sent to Meta asking it to review its practices and ensure compliance with Indian child-safety laws, and the matter was brought to the attention of MeitY.
The NHRC summoned the Delhi Police Commissioner for failing to submit an Action Taken Report in a case of Instagram ads allegedly promoting CSAM and redirecting users to Telegram channels.
Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg apologised for CSAM, deepfake content and operational failures after Meta executives met IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, IT Secretary S. Krishnan and other officials.
- Who
- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and its member Priyank Kanoongo, the police chiefs of eight Indian states, the Delhi Police Commissioner, and Meta executives including chief Mark Zuckerberg.
- What
- The NHRC flagged over 50 CSEAM complaints on Instagram, issued notices to state police chiefs and Meta, and summoned the Delhi Police Commissioner over a delayed report on Instagram ads allegedly directing users to CSAM-selling Telegram channels.
- Where
- India, at the NHRC's office in Manav Adhikar Bhawan, New Delhi, involving police departments across eight states.
- When
- CSEAM complaints were received over the past week; the ATR case ran from a July 8 NHRC notice to a July 29 reminder and a summons issued on Wednesday, with appearance set for September 7.
- Why
- To protect children from online sexual exploitation and ensure police and platforms comply with Indian laws, including mandatory reporting obligations under the POCSO Act and to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Key facts
- CSEAM complaints received
- More than 50 cases on Instagram in the past week
- State police chiefs served notices
- Punjab, Delhi, Telangana, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Haryana, Bihar
- Companies/agencies notified
- Meta (to review practices) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
- Delhi Police summons
- Appear before the NHRC on September 7 at 11:30 a.m. at Manav Adhikar Bhawan, New Delhi
- Action Taken Report deadline
- On or before August 31; original notice issued July 8 under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, reminder on July 29
- Alleged Instagram ad terms
- "Rape video" and "child video," redirecting users to Telegram channels
- Laws flagged by NHRC
- POCSO Act, Information Technology Act, Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
- Meta chief's apology
- Mark Zuckerberg apologised for CSAM, deepfake content and operational failures
Quotes
Priyank Kanoongo
NHRC member who issued statements on the platform X
“Over the past week, complaints regarding more than 50 cases of CSEAM (Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material) on Instagram have been received.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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