Supreme Court judge seeks legal framework to curb AI-linked child abuse

New Delhi: Supreme Court judge Justice B V Nagarathna on Sunday urged the government to bring in laws to regulate deepfakes and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled child abuse, saying such technologies pose serious dangers to children.

Speaking at the closing session of the national consultation on ‘Safeguarding the Girl Child’, organised by the Supreme Court’s Juvenile Justice Committee with UNICEF India, she warned that the risks of new technologies “may seem like a Sword of Damocles.”

She called for laws mandating 24-hour reporting of child sexual abuse material, platform-level age checks, and national tracking of response timelines. Justice Nagarathna also proposed forming an “AI Cybercrime Advisory Committee on Girl Child” to study how AI affects children’s safety.

The judge highlighted the need for judicial training on handling AI-related harm and urged stronger monitoring and enforcement of laws to prevent female foeticide and infanticide. However, she added that legal steps alone are not enough — parents must be made aware of opportunities for girls and the need to end the belief that daughters are a burden.

Justice Nagarathna also called for nutrition awareness in schools, defining junk food categories, and banning unhealthy food marketing near schools. She said education can empower girls and help them overcome social barriers.

She urged the professionalisation of anti-trafficking investigations, better rehabilitation for victims, and community-level efforts to stop child marriage.

Concluding her address, Justice Nagarathna said empowering the girl child is key to building a fair and equal society. She stressed the importance of accurate data and regular reviews of sex ratios to ensure progress.

(With PTI inputs)