What’s in the news?

• The Supreme Court has held that viewing in private, downloading, storing, possessing, distributing or displaying pornographic acts involving children attract criminal liability under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and the Information Technology Act.
• The Supreme Court urged the Parliament to “seriously consider” amending the POCSO Act to substitute the term “child pornography” with “Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material” or CSEAM. 
• The court said the government must promulgate an ordinance in the meantime to bring about the suggested amendment. 
• It directed courts across the country to replace ‘child pornography’ with the term ‘Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material’ or CSEAM in their judgments and judicial orders.
  • The court found the term ‘child pornography’ a misnomer which failed to capture the full extent and horror of the crime. 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/storing-and-viewing-child-sexually-exploitative-abuse-material-an-offence-under-pocso-supreme-court/article68672855.ece