Digital child abuse, the danger of AI-based exploitation, Pg 6

Key Highlights

AI-Generated CSAM: A New Threat

• UKs AI Safety Institute flags rise in AI-generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
• Proposed law criminalizes possession, use, and dissemination of AI-generated CSAMshifting from act-based to tool-centric accountability.

Indias Current Scenario

• NCRB recorded 1.94 lakh child pornography incidents (2024).
• 69,000 cyber tip-line reports shared via NCMEC (USA).
• Indias laws (POCSO, IT Act) lack provisions for AI-generated CSAM.

Legal Gaps in India

• Current laws punish publishing or sharing explicit content but lack clarity on AI-generated material.
• No recognition of CSAM as a separate category; legislative ambiguity persists.

Proposed Reforms

• Replace child pornography with CSAM.
• Broaden sexually explicit to include digital representations.
• Expand intermediary definition to include VPNs and Cloud services.

International Models

• UK law and UNs Convention on Countering Cybercrime offer robust frameworks.

Analysis & Way Forward

• India must modernize its cyber law infrastructure.
• Multi-stakeholder consultation needed for technologically adaptive legal frameworks.

Mains Mock Question:

"AI-generated child abuse material poses a grave threat to child rights and cybersecurity. Examine the limitations of India's existing laws and suggest a robust regulatory framework."