The Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Twitter for allegedly allowing access to child pornography on the microblogging platform on a complaint by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), officials said on Tuesday. The case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the IT Act, they said.
This comes days after the NCPCR, the country’s apex child rights body, asked Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Cell) Anyesh Roy to explain why no action had been taken against Twitter as per its letter to the Delhi Police dated 29 May. In its letter, the NCPCR had asked the Delhi Police to book Twitter on the basis of the findings of its recent inquiry in which it had found that child sexual abuse material (CSAM) was easily available on the platform. NCPCR in its complaint explained the statutory rights in this matter and why they felt a sense of concern over a series of issues including child pornographic content. Acting upon NCPCR’s complaint, Delhi Police in its statement said, “Delhi Police Cyber Cell has registered a case under POCSO Act and IT Act against Twitter on the basis of a complaint from NCPCR citing availability of links/ material pertaining to child exploitation.” “The complaint is against Twitter Inc and Twitter Communication India Private Ltd,” added Delhi Police.
It is to be noted that multiple FIRs have been registered against Twitter in various cases. An FIR was slapped against Twitter India Managing Director Manish Maheshwari on Monday for the distorted map of India on the microblogging platform’s website. The UP Police had filed the FIR under IPC Section 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred, or ill will between classes) and Section 74 of the IT Act (Publication for a fraudulent purpose) after a Bajrang Dal leader in Bulandshahr lodged a complaint in this regard.
