The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would issue directions to the Centre and other stakeholders on preventive measures to curb the circulation of child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM) online, stressing the seriousness of the issue.
The development came after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) submitted a draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlining measures for online intermediaries to prevent, detect, remove and report such content through the government’s Sahyog portal.
In its affidavit, the ministry said the SOP was prepared in consultation with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Telecommunications and other stakeholders.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told the court that discussions had been held on measures to address the issue and sought additional time to finalise the SOP.
The bench observed, “This is a very serious matter. We want the Union government to take it seriously. We will pass an order. You study our order. We will suggest you some things that will be helpful for you.”
The court scheduled the next hearing after a month to allow the Centre to make further progress on preventive measures.
Centre Flags Action Against Online Platforms
The Centre informed the court that MeitY had issued a notice in July 2026 to Meta’s compliance officer over paid advertisements allegedly promoting CSEAM. Proceedings in the matter are ongoing.
The government also highlighted amendments made in February 2026 to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, introducing specific due diligence requirements for platforms to prevent and report such content.
Petition Seeks Uniform Reporting Mechanism
The proceedings stem from an application filed by Just Rights for Children Alliance (JRCA), seeking effective implementation of the Supreme Court’s September 23, 2024, judgment and a uniform SOP for online intermediaries.
The 2024 judgment held that social media intermediaries must report cases of child abuse and exploitation to the appropriate authorities under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The petitioner has sought a comprehensive mechanism for detecting and reporting abusive content, preserving evidence, coordinating between agencies and ensuring timely police action. It has also called for criminal proceedings, in accordance with law, against intermediaries that fail to comply with mandatory reporting requirements.