“Karnataka is number one in the IT industry, but where is the IT security for all,” asked Vasudeva Sharma NV, Director, Child Rights Trust, referring to the drastic increase in online child sexual exploitation.

He was speaking on Friday (August 23) at the National-Level Consultation, which was organised to address this issue through the Stepping Up Against Sexual Exploitation of Children (SUFASEC) project. The two-day event, organised by Children of India Foundation in collaboration with Terre des Hommes Netherlands, attracted over 150 participants, including youth ambassadors, experts, government officials and legal aid providers from the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Jharkhand.

The speakers highlighted the problem of online bullying of children.

“While the pandemic accelerated internet penetration and created opportunities, it also left children unaware of online dangers. The growing digital divide between children and adults made it crucial that both children were educated on safe internet use and adults were educated on responsible internet practices, including the use of parental controls,” said Thangaperumal Ponpandi, Country Director of India & Nepal, Terre des Hommes Netherlands.

One of the key issues highlighted at the event was the significant gap between the existing legal framework and its practical implementation. Despite a range of laws designed to protect children from online exploitation, many victims are reluctant to report their experiences, often due to fear, stigma or a lack of trust in the system. This highlights the need for a more accessible and supportive complaints process.

The consultation also focused on the role of government in addressing this widespread problem. Participants urged state governments to allocate more funding specifically to educational initiatives targeting children, adolescents and young people, with a specific focus on online sexual exploitation. They argued that while new laws may not be needed immediately, proper implementation of existing laws, coupled with broad public education, could lead to significant improvements.