#FactCheck – False Claim of Lord Ram's Hologram in Srinagar - Video Actually from Dehradun

Introduction

Who would have predicted that the crime of slavery would haunt our lives through the digital world? In a recent unfolding of events, the cyber wing of Maharashtra has saved 60 Indian nationals from a cyber slavery racket run by armed rebel groups operating in Myanmar and arrested five suspects who acted as recruiting agents, including a foreign national. As per the reports, the racketeers made contact with various individuals, enticing them with offers of high-paying jobs in East Asian countries. The operation unfolds a carefully designed crime network that operates through bordering states, Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia, targeting vulnerable individuals through deceptive means and forcing them to commit cyber fraud and financial crimes, operating as an authentic industrial setup. The disturbing set of events makes up only one of many such cyber-slavery incidents that are uncovered and various other rackets that operate in the shadows of cyberspace. Another similar event was reported in March 2025, where the disturbing ordeal of a 52-year-old father from Bihar’s Gopalganj, whose son was lured into working in a scam call centre under the pretence of a data entry job in Thailand.

Counting the Unseen: The Dark Metrics of Cyber Slavery

As per the United Nations report from October 2024, a large number of young individuals are enslaved, acting under the impression they will be employed in high-paying jobs, often on social media platforms, and what follows is an intricate web of cybercriminals operating from illegal scam compounds.  According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), financial losses from scams in Southeast Asia reached between $18 billion (Rs 1.6 lakh crore) and $37 billion (Rs 3.2 lakh crore) in 2023, much of it linked to organised crime in these three countries. Also, acting on a similar premise, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), a division under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), organised an inter-ministerial committee to address a significant rise in cybercrime in Southeast Asian countries, which includes Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. 

The data from the Bureau of Immigration in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, which included around 29,466 Indians who travelled on visitor visas to Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia between January 2022 and May 2024, has gone missing.

From Rescue to Reform: How India is Tackling Cyber Slavery 

The recent events that unfolded have agitated the government to undertake vigilant rescue operations for the missing individuals who became victims of this modern-day trafficking and coordinate with foreign ministries in Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia for extradition and repatriation. It is notable that in the year 2015, India along with seven other countries in South Asia, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, came together to address transnational threats that transcend geographical and cultural borders in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC). The collaboration brought together a Compendium of Bilateral and Regional Instruments for South Asia providing for International Cooperation in Criminal Matters. Further, in January 2025, UNODC and the European Union launched a €9 million regional project titled "Preventing and Addressing Trafficking in Human Beings and the Smuggling of Migrants in South Asia." The Government of India, through its various agencies, also lays down various guidelines and advisories on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Additionally, law enforcement agencies are actively involved, and cybersecurity NGOs are proactively spreading awareness about identifying red flags associated with threats such as cyber slavery.

Recommendations: A Call to Action

• The various advisories released by the Gov. of India emphasise the need for Indian nationals to verify the credentials of the employer through the Indian Embassy located in that country.
• The authorities and various agencies also stress the need for individuals to refrain from sharing personal information such as location details, contact information or any information pertaining to personal relationships that can be exploited by such criminals.
• The fundamental manner of tackling the crime of cyber slavery is to ensure digital literacy and increase awareness through public campaigns and educational programmes
• The need of the hour is international cooperation and collaboration to undertake a concerted effort to bring back the victims and penalise all those who facilitate such criminal activities. 

References

• https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/more-than-60-indians-forced-into-cyber-slavery-rescued-from-myanmar-5-arrested/article69438991.ece 
• https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/cyber-slavery-the-new-job-con-trapping-indian-youth-abroad-2637157-2024-11-21 
• https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mha-high-powered-committee-cybercrimes-from-se-asia-9345843/ ‍
• https://www.unodc.org/documents/terrorism/Publications/SAARC%20compendium/SA_Compendium_Volume-2.pdf

Introduction

Sexual Offences against children have recently come under scrutiny after the decision of the Madras High Court which has ruled that watching and downloading child sexual porn is an inchoate crime. In response, the Supreme Court, on 23 September 2024, ruled that Section 15 of the POCSO and Section 67B of the IT Act penalise any form of use of child pornography, including storing and watching such pornographic content. Along with this, the Supreme Court has further recommended replacing the term “Child Pornography” which it said acts as a misnomer and does not capture the full extent of the crime, with a more inclusive term “Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material” (CESAM). This term would more accurately reflect the reality that these images and videos are not merely pornographic but are records of incidents, where a child has either been sexually exploited and abused or where any abuse of children has been portrayed through any self-generated visual depiction.

Intermediaries cannot claim exemption from Liability U/S 79 

Previously, intermediaries claimed safe harbour by only complying with the requirements stipulated under the  MOU. As per the decision of the SC, now, an intermediary cannot claim exemption from the liability under Section 79 of the IT Act for any third-party information, data, or communication link made available or hosted by it unless due diligence is conducted by it and compliance is made of these provisions of the POCSO Act. This is as per the provisions of Sections 19 and 20 of the POCSO read with Rule 11 of the POCSO Rules which have a mandatory nature.

The due diligence under section 79 of the IT Act includes the removal of child pornographic content and immediate reporting of such content to the concerned police units in the manner specified under the POCSO Act and the Rules. In this way, the Supreme Court has broadened the Interpretation and scope of the ‘Due Diligence’ obligation under section 79 of the IT Act. It was also stated that is to be duly noted that merely because an intermediary complies with the IT Act, will not absolve it of any liability under the POCSO. This is unless it duly complies with the requirements and procedure set out under it, particularly Section 20 of the POCSO Act and Rule 11 of the POCSO Rules.

Bar on Judicial Use of the term ‘Child Porn’

Supreme Court found that the term child pornography can be trivialised as pornography is often seen as a consensual act between adults. Supreme Court emphasised using the term Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material  (CESAM) as it would emphasise the exploitation of children highlight the criminality of the act and shift the focus to a more robust framework to counter these crimes. The Supreme Court also stated that the Union of India should consider amending the POCSO Act to replace the "child pornography" term with "child sexual exploitative and abuse material" (CSEAM). This would reflect more accurately on the reality of such offences. Supreme Court also directed that the term "child pornography" shall not be used in any judicial order or judgment, and instead, the term "CSEAM" should be endorsed.

Curbing CSEAM Content on Social Media Platforms

Social Media Intermediaries and Expert Organisations play an important role in curbing CESAM content. Per the directions of the Apex Court, a need to impart positive age-appropriate sex education to prevent youth from engaging in harmful sexual behaviours, including the distribution, and viewing of CSEAM is important and all stakeholders must engage in proactive measures to counter these offences which are under the umbrella of CSEAM. This should entail promoting age-appropriated and lawful content on social media platforms and social media platforms to ensure compliance with applicable provisions.  

Conclusion 

In light of the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling, it is imperative to acknowledge the pressing necessity of establishing a safer online environment that shields children from exploitation. The shift towards using "Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material" (CSEAM) emphasizes the severity of the crime and the need for a vigilant response. The social media intermediaries must respect their commitment to report and remove exploitive content and must ensure compliance with POCSO and IT regulations. Furthermore, comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education can also be used as a preventive measure, educating young people about the moral and legal ramifications of sexual offences, encouraging respect and awareness and ensuring safer cyberspace. 

References

• https://www.scconline.com/blog/post/2024/09/23/storing-watching-child-pornography-crime-supreme-court-pocso-it-act/#:~:text=Supreme%20Court%3A%20The%20bench%20of,watching%20of%20such%20pornographic%20content
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/supreme-court-viewing-child-porn-is-offence-under-pocso-it-acts/articleshow/113613572.cms
• https://bwlegalworld.com/article/dont-use-term-child-pornography-says-sc-urges-parliament-to-amend-pocso-act-534053  
• https://indianexpress.com/article/india/child-pornography-law-pocso-it-supreme-court-9583376/

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Introduction:

The National Security Council Secretariat, in strategic partnership with the Rashtriya Raksha University, Gujarat, conducted a 12-day Bharat National Cyber Security Exercise in 2024 (from 18th November to 29th November). This exercise included landmark events such as a CISO (Chief Information Security Officers) Conclave and a Cyber Security Start-up exhibition, which were inaugurated on 27 November 2024. Other key features of the exercise include cyber defense training, live-fire simulations, and strategic decision-making simulations. The aim of the exercise was to equip senior government officials and personnel in critical sector organisations with skills to deal with cybersecurity issues. The event also consisted of speeches, panel discussions, and initiatives such as the release of the National Cyber Reference Framework (NCRF)- which provides a structured approach to cyber governance, and the launch of the National Cyber Range(NCR) 1.0., a cutting-edge facility for cyber security research training.

The Deputy National Security Advisor, Shri T.V. Ravichandran (IPS) reiterated, through his speech, the importance of the inclusion of technology in challenges with respect to cyber security and shaping India’s cyber strategy in a manner that is proactive. The CISOs of both government and private entities were encouraged to take up multidimensional efforts which included technological upkeep but also soft skills for awareness.

CyberPeace Outlook

The Bharat National Cybersecurity Exercise (Bharat NCX) 2024 underscores India’s commitment to a comprehensive and inclusive approach to strengthening its cybersecurity ecosystem. By fostering collaboration between startups, government bodies, and private organizations, the initiative facilitates dialogue among CISOs and promotes a unified strategy toward cyber resilience. Platforms like Bharat NCX encourage exploration in the Indian entrepreneurial space, enabling startups to innovate and contribute to critical domains like cybersecurity. Developments such as IIT Indore’s intelligent receivers (useful for both telecommunications and military operations) and the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited’s plans to establish a dedicated Security Operations Centre (SOC) to counter cyber threats are prime examples of technological strides fostering national cyber resilience.

Cybersecurity cannot be understood in isolation: it is an integral aspect of national security, impacting the broader digital infrastructure supporting Digital India initiatives. The exercise emphasises skills training, creating a workforce adept in cyber hygiene, incident response, and resilience-building techniques. Such efforts bolster proficiency across sectors, aligning with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. By integrating cybersecurity into workplace technologies and fostering a culture of awareness, Bharat NCX 2024 is a platform that encourages innovation and is a testament to the government’s resolve to fortify India’s digital landscape against evolving threats. 

References

1. https://ciso.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/cybercrime-fraud/bharat-cisos-conclave-cybersecurity-startup-exhibition-inaugurated-under-bharat-ncx-2024/115755679
2. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2078093
3. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/indore/iit-indore-unveils-groundbreaking-intelligent-receivers-for-enhanced-6g-and-military-communication-security/articleshow/115265902.cms
4. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/defence-system-to-be-set-up-to-protect-metro-rail-from-cyber-threats/article68841318.ece
5. https://rru.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Brochure12-min.pdf

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