Safe Childhood India

Deepfake abuse of children in India is a grave violation of child rights and must be treated as serious abuse and sexual exploitation, not as a mere cyber offence. Digital manipulation of a child’s image, voice, or likeness into sexualised, obscene, or degrading content causes real and enduring harm. Such acts violate the child’s dignity, privacy, bodily autonomy, and mental well-being, leaving long-term psychological and social consequences.

India’s existing legal framework adequately covers such abuse. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 criminalises sexual harassment and the use of children for pornographic purposes, irrespective of whether the content is real or fabricated. The Information Technology Act of 2000 (Sections 66E, 67, and 67B) penalises violations of privacy and the creation or transmission of child sexual abuse material, including digitally altered content. Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, children subjected to deepfake abuse qualify as Children in Need of Care and Protection, requiring immediate care, counselling, and rehabilitation.

Mandatory reporting obligations apply, and CWCs, SJPUs, cyber cells, and DCPUs must ensure swift takedowns, investigations, and victim-centered support. Technology cannot dilute accountability. In India, deepfake abuse is abuse, and the child’s best interests must remain paramount.