Instagram is facing legal action for hosting inappropriate content depicting mothers and sons, as concerns raised by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) have prompted legal proceedings. The case has been filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology (IT) Act, following instructions from the NCPCR. A notice has been issued to Instagram and Meta's office in the United States under CrPC 91.
The NCPCR expressed alarm over the circulation of videos on social media platforms depicting indecent acts, such as kisses, between mothers and sons. The videos in question were found on an Instagram handle traced to Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal.
This legal action against Instagram echoes similar concerns previously raised about YouTube India. In January of this year, the NCPCR summoned YouTube India's government affairs and public policy head to appear in person, accompanied by a list of channels promoting objectionable content. Subsequently, the Maharashtra Police registered a case against YouTube India in connection with these videos.
The operator of a specific YouTube channel was also charged under the POCSO Act for posting 'challenge videos' involving mothers and sons. These incidents highlight the growing scrutiny over social media platforms' role in regulating and moderating content, particularly content that may harm or exploit children. The legal actions underscore the importance of robust measures to prevent the dissemination of inappropriate material and protect vulnerable individuals from harm online.
