Supreme Court Calls for Digital Safety and Sex Education From Primary School Level

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has said digital safety awareness and sex education should be treated as a single subject. The court observed that safety measures prescribed to protect children from sexually exploitative and abusive content would be ineffective unless children themselves were aware of the risks and how to protect themselves.

The court directed that digital safety and age-appropriate sex education be incorporated into the curriculum from the primary school level. It also issued 16 key guidelines for implementation by the Central and state governments, child rights commissions, educational institutions and the media.

Key Guidelines Issued by the Court

1. Children should be taught, in an age-appropriate manner, about their bodies, the difference between good and bad touch, and the importance of consent.

2. They should be taught to respect one another and maintain healthy friendships.

3. Children sometimes photograph or circulate private images of their peers. They should be made aware of the seriousness of such acts and discouraged from engaging in this harmful behaviour.

4. Children should be taught how to protect personal information and recognise online fraud, blackmail and exploitation.

5. They should know how to approach trusted adults at home or school, or the relevant official authorities, if they experience any form of abuse.

6. Children should be encouraged to report such incidents without fear. They should be assured that their information will be kept confidential and that they will receive the necessary support.

7. Children should be made aware of the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology Act, including the fact that viewing, possessing or circulating material depicting sexual abuse is a criminal offence.

8. The NCERT and SCERT should prepare lessons using texts, illustrations, audio and video materials in consultation with child psychologists, teachers and parenting experts.

9. Information about the Child Helpline (1098), Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal should be displayed in all classrooms, hostels, libraries, computer laboratories and school websites.

10. Filters to block harmful content should be installed on digital devices and networks in schools and educational institutions. These measures should be strictly enforced in hostels, tuition and coaching centres, and childcare institutions.

11. Teachers and other staff should receive training in digital safety, recognising signs of grooming, mandatory reporting obligations under Sections 19 and 21 of the POCSO Act, and maintaining confidentiality.

12. Parents should receive regular training on online risks faced by children, parental control features on devices and signs of psychological distress among children.

13. Parents should be taught to monitor children's online activities without undermining mutual trust and communication.

14. Governments and child rights commissions should conduct sustained awareness campaigns on the POCSO Act and digital abuse through the media, social media, television, SMS and OTT platforms.

15. Teachers, parents and other caregivers should be given guidance on how to respond to dangerous situations.

16. Digital platforms should introduce safety mechanisms that issue warnings when children attempt to contact unfamiliar adults or conduct searches related to POCSO.

17. Governments should establish free support systems to ensure that child victims receive mental health support, counselling and therapy for as long as necessary.

The bench comprising Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice K Vinod Chandran observed that digital safety and sex education were not separate subjects but two sides of the same coin.

“Children must learn from an early age whom to meet and speak to. They must be able to recognise inappropriate requests and behaviour, protect their own dignity and that of others, and know whom to approach if an unwelcome incident occurs. This is essential for children's safety both online and offline,” the bench observed.