Online child abuse content
Child abuse vulnerability in Pakistan is reaching alarming levels, with a concerning surge in online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) reports. Recent data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children of the US paints a grim picture, placing Pakistan among the top three countries globally for CSAM reports. Over the past three years, from 2020 to 2022, Pakistan recorded a staggering 5.4 million online child exploitation reports, trailing only behind India and the Philippines.
The prevalence of CSAM on major social media platforms, particularly Meta-owned apps like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, highlights the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and regulatory oversight. Meta’s dominance in CSAM reports, with Facebook accounting for five times more reports than Instagram and 18 times more than WhatsApp, points at the need for targeted interventions to protect children on these platforms. While Meta and other online service providers have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their users, there is also a need for stronger collaboration between governments, tech companies and civil society organisations to address the root causes of online child sexual abuse. A comprehensive strategy to combat the proliferation of CSAM online should include a severe and targeted crackdown on criminal networks involved in its production and dissemination. These mafias perpetuate heinous crimes against vulnerable children and must be held accountable for their actions. A severe crackdown involves rigorous law enforcement efforts to identify, dismantle and prosecute individuals and organisations involved in the production and distribution.
Furthermore, governments should strengthen legal frameworks to ensure that those involved in CSAM-related activities face severe penalties commensurate with the gravity of their crimes. This includes enacting legislation that imposes harsh sanctions on offenders, such as lengthy prison sentences and significant fines, to deter others from engaging in similar behaviour.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 12th, 2024.
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