Child Sexual Abuse Websites, URLs To Be Identified And Blocked By July 31

The Centre has announced immediate interim measures to curb the menace of online Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), directing the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to adopt and implement the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) Resources by 31st July.

IWF maintains a dynamic global list of websites and URLs which contain CSAM, and hence, its implementation will result in the relevant content being blocked and removed on an ongoing basis.

The measures have been introduced on the basis of consultations of an Inter- Ministerial Committee, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) in collaboration with Ministry of Women and Child Development. The direction has been issued under Section 79(2) (c) of the Information Technology Act 2000 to curb online CSAM.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee was constituted pursuant to a stakeholder Consultation that was held last year, wherein it was decided that the Ministry will establish a National Alliance against   Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, focusing primarily on the online content. The IMC was constituted on the request of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, and includes the Union Ministries of Law, Home affairs, Electronics and Information Technology, External Affairs and the Department of Telecom.

An official release stated that this is an interim measure till the IMC puts in place a centralized mechanism to monitor online CSAM. The Order also reiterates that the ISPs will continue to observe due diligence requirements described under the IT Act (Information Technology Act 2000) for removing and disabling any content which is in violation of the extant rules and regulations.