The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, urging it to ensure that over-the-top (OTT) platforms display disclaimers in English, Hindi, and regional languages before showing any adult content.
The NCPCR has recommended that these disclaimers cite Section 11 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. These sections warn that parents could be held responsible if their children access adult content.
Section 11 of the POCSO Act deals with child sexual harassment, including showing any pornographic material to a child. Offenders could face up to three years in prison or a fine. Meanwhile, Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act outlines penalties for cruelty to children, including physical abuse, neglect, and abandonment, with punishments of up to three years in prison or a fine of ₹1 lakh.
The NCPCR’s request follows an August meeting with representatives from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and various central ministries. The meeting aimed to address concerns about minors committing crimes after watching adult content. The letter, sent on September 19, was also forwarded to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Ministry of Telecommunications for action.
An official from the NCPCR explained that while OTT platforms allow users to create individual profiles, these profiles are not password-protected, allowing children to access inappropriate content.
To further safeguard children, the NCPCR has also recommended that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology ensure that social media platforms obtain parental consent before processing any personal data of children, as outlined in the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023.
Additionally, the NCPCR has suggested that the Ministry of Telecommunications explore the possibility of issuing SIM cards in a child’s name, providing another layer of protection.
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