Srinagar, July 2: The Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Srinagar, on Thursday summoned a local news portal over the recording and publication of an interview of a school child without obtaining parental consent, while separately directing the Cyber Police to facilitate the removal of viral videos featuring school children from social media.
In a notice, the CWC said it had come to its notice that “a child was interviewed and recorded by representatives of” the news portal “without obtaining the informed consent of the child’s parent/legal guardian and without the knowledge or permission of the concerned school authorities.”
The committee said such action, if established, “may amount to a violation of the rights of the child guaranteed under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, wherever applicable, and the media reporting safeguards issued by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights regarding the protection of children’s identity, privacy, dignity, and best interests.”
Accordingly, “in exercise of the powers vested in the Child Welfare Committee under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015,” the CWC directed the news portal to appear before it on July 3 at 12 noon at its Srinagar office.
The committee asked the portal to produce “the reporter/interviewer concerned,” “the cameraperson or media personnel present during the interview, if any,” and “a written explanation regarding the circumstances under which the interview was conducted.”
It has also sought “copies of the recorded interview, published/broadcast material, and any consent or authorization relied upon” along with “any other relevant documents in your possession.”
The notice warned that “failure to appear or to furnish the required information may invite appropriate action in accordance with law.”
In a separate order, the CWC directed the Station House Officer of Cyber Police Station, Srinagar, to identify social media accounts, URLs and digital platforms hosting or circulating videos of school children interviewed outside their school premises. One of the videos, which was widely shared on social media, showed children expressing views related to the Education Minister Sakina Itoo and summer vacations.
The committee said interviewing children on public issues without informed parental or guardian consent and without permission from school authorities raises “serious concerns regarding the privacy, safety, dignity, and best interests of the children.”
It observed that continued circulation of such videos could expose children to “public scrutiny, harassment, misuse of identity, and other forms of harm.”
The Cyber Police has been asked to take expeditious steps to remove or block the videos, examine whether any child protection or digital laws were violated, and initiate legal action if warranted. It has also been directed to submit an Action Taken Report to the committee within 48 hours.
