Child Rights Activist Files Police Complaint Against Telegram, PhonePe, and Paytm for Allegedly Facilitating Sale of Child Sexual Abuse Material
In a significant development on Children’s Day, Hyderabad-based child rights activist Sunitha Krishnan has filed a police complaint against messaging app Telegram, and digital payment platforms PhonePe and Paytm. Krishnan, the founder of Prajwala, an NGO combating sex trafficking, accuses the platforms of abetting the sale of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and fostering an ecosystem conducive to the sexual exploitation of children. Krishnan, a Padma Shri awardee, conducted an undercover investigation on Telegram, revealing alarming ease in accessing explicit material, leading her to make purchases through PhonePe and Paytm.
Krishnan’s investigation unveiled Telegram’s vulnerability, citing the lack of identity verification and encryption settings that allow the sale and purchase of CSAM without detection. She criticized the absence of warnings from Telegram during her activities, highlighting the platform’s role in aiding the distribution of illegal content. Krishnan also accused PhonePe and Paytm of providing easy QR access to sellers, facilitating the distribution of explicit material at low costs. The activist has called for immediate action against the platforms, emphasizing the urgency to prevent further sexual exploitation of children.
Sunitha Krishnan’s complaint has been directed to Telangana DGP Anjani Kumar, and she plans to reach out to the Union Home Ministry. Krishnan emphasized that the circulation of sexually exploitative content poses a serious threat to children’s safety and security, accelerating child trafficking for sexual exploitation. She called for accountability from Telegram, PhonePe, and Paytm, stressing the need for immediate and urgent action to prevent further harm to children through the sale of CSAM. As these platforms remain silent, the activist’s efforts shed light on the urgent need for stricter regulations to safeguard children online.
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