Take Down Obscene Videos: NHRC's Plea To YouTube

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Post on Feb 12, 2025

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Take Down Obscene Videos: NHRC's Plea to YouTube

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a strong plea to YouTube, urging the video-sharing platform to take down obscene and objectionable content that violates India's laws and harms children. This action highlights the ongoing battle against the spread of harmful material online and the crucial role platforms like YouTube play in protecting vulnerable users.

The NHRC's Concerns: A Growing Problem

The NHRC's concern stems from the alarming proliferation of obscene videos, particularly those that exploit, abuse, and endanger children. These videos often depict graphic sexual content, violence, and other harmful activities, violating several Indian laws including the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. The Commission highlights the ease with which such content is accessible, posing a significant threat to children's safety and well-being.

The Impact on Children

The detrimental effects of exposure to obscene and violent content on children are well-documented. Such exposure can lead to:

• Psychological trauma: Children may experience anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after viewing such material.
• Behavioral problems: Exposure to violence and sexual content can normalize harmful behavior and increase the risk of aggression and sexual misconduct.
• Desensitization: Repeated exposure can desensitize children to violence and exploitation, making them more vulnerable to abuse.
• Normalization of harmful behavior: Children may begin to perceive such actions as acceptable or even desirable.

YouTube's Responsibility: Platform Accountability

The NHRC's plea underscores the responsibility of online platforms like YouTube in curbing the spread of harmful content. As a major player in the online video landscape, YouTube holds a significant responsibility to ensure its platform is not used to disseminate illegal and harmful material. The Commission emphasizes the need for YouTube to:

• Strengthen its content moderation policies: This includes investing in more robust technology and human resources to identify and remove objectionable content more effectively.
• Enhance user reporting mechanisms: Making it easier for users to report such content is crucial for prompt action.
• Improve transparency and accountability: YouTube should provide regular updates on its efforts to combat harmful content and demonstrate its commitment to protecting users.
• Implement stricter age verification measures: This will help restrict access to inappropriate content for minors.

The Legal Framework in India: Existing Laws and Enforcement

India has several laws in place to tackle online obscenity and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). However, effective enforcement remains a challenge. The NHRC's action calls for greater collaboration between law enforcement agencies and online platforms to ensure compliance with these laws. This includes:

• Improved coordination between NHRC, law enforcement and YouTube: This would ensure efficient reporting, investigation, and removal of offensive content.
• Stringent penalties for non-compliance: YouTube and other platforms should face significant consequences for failing to take appropriate action against harmful content.

The Way Forward: A Collaborative Approach

Addressing the issue of obscene videos on YouTube requires a multi-pronged approach involving collaboration between the government, online platforms, and civil society organizations. This collaborative effort must focus on:

• Raising public awareness: Educating users about the risks of online content and how to report harmful material.
• Improving technology for content moderation: Developing and implementing advanced AI and machine learning tools to automatically detect and remove objectionable content.
• Strengthening international cooperation: Collaborating with other countries to share best practices and combat the cross-border dissemination of harmful content.

The NHRC's plea serves as a significant wake-up call for YouTube and other online platforms. It emphasizes the critical need for greater accountability and responsibility in protecting users, particularly children, from the harmful effects of obscene and violent content. The fight against online obscenity is far from over, but this action highlights the importance of a collaborative approach to ensure a safer online environment for everyone.