Make Digital Literacy Part of Curriculum to Curb Online Child Sexual Abuse

Syllabus :GS1/Social Issues 

In News

• A pilot study in Karnataka on online sexual exploitation and abuse of children recommends making digital literacy and online safety mandatory in schools from the primary level. 

About the study 

• It was conducted by ChildFund India and the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR).
• It surveyed 903 children aged 8 to 18, found that online risks have increased significantly, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• It highlights the crucial role of parents, teachers, policymakers, and communities in protecting children online. 

Online child sexual abuse and exploitation

• Online child sexual abuse and exploitation involve using technology to sexually harm children, often through force, coercion, or manipulation.
  • Child sexual abuse refers to abusive contact or interactions where a child is used for sexual purposes against their will, while child sexual exploitation includes such abuse combined with an exchange of favors like food or shelter.

Causes 

• Many children annually fall victim to online sexual abuse and exploitation, worsened by the misuse of existing and emerging technologies like AI, deepfakes, and voice cloning. 
• These technologies facilitate harassment, non-consensual sharing of images, child sexual abuse materials, extortion, and livestreaming of abuse.
  •  Vulnerable and marginalized children are disproportionately affected. 
• Despite laws, cultural stigma and fear of backlash prevent many victims from seeking justice. 

Impacts 

• Sexual abuse of children is a gross violation of their rights and a global public health problem.
•  It adversely affects the health of children and adolescents.

Laws cross the globe 

• International and regional conventions, like the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 2007 Lanzarote Convention, set out children’s rights and require states to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse. 
• These agreements focus on preventing abuse, protecting victims, prosecuting offenders, and fostering cooperation for effective investigation and prevention of such crimes.

Status In India 

• Presently, Section 67B of the IT Act 2000 punishes those who publish or transmit material in electronic form depicting children in sexually explicit acts.
• Sections 13, 14, and 15 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) prohibit using children for pornographic purposes, storing child pornography in any form, and using a child for sexual gratification.
• Additionally, Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita penalises the sale, distribution, or public exhibition of obscene materials, while Section 295 makes it illegal to sell, distribute, or exhibit such obscene objects to children.

Suggestions 

• The existing legislative and policy framework in India needs to adapt to futuristic challenges, by making suitable changes
• It  requires a holistic approach to include digital literacy, awareness of online rights, strong support systems, and ethical digital behavior. 
• Education on consent, privacy, and responsible technology use, as well as updated laws to address AI-generated abuses, are critical. 
• There is a need to enhance parental supervision, teacher training, and foster open communication between children and parents. 

Source :TH