The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed Meta, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and authorities in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, to submit action-taken reports within two weeks regarding allegations of children being used in politically charged Instagram videos. The notices were issued on September 28 following a complaint by the Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation, which raised concerns about the exploitation of minors in social media content, according to medianama.com.
The complaint alleges that adults repeatedly involved minor children, including those from vulnerable backgrounds, in scripted political videos uploaded via an Instagram account linked to Etah. The NHRC bench, led by member Priyank Kanoongo, has instructed the Etah police to identify the children, protect and counsel them, and investigate the adults responsible for creating and circulating the videos. The police are also tasked with identifying the individuals controlling the Instagram account and examining the roles of adults in scripting, recording, and uploading the content.
This intervention highlights growing concerns over the use of social media platforms for political messaging involving minors, raising questions about children’s dignity, privacy, and psychological well-being. The NHRC’s involvement underscores the need for regulatory oversight in digital content, especially when vulnerable groups are involved. The case also places responsibility on Meta India’s leadership and MeitY to address potential violations under Indian law, reflecting broader scrutiny of online political content.
The NHRC has set a two-week deadline for Meta India’s managing director, MeitY, and Etah district officials to submit detailed reports on the actions taken. The Etah police have been ordered to carry out a thorough investigation and provide updates on the protection and counseling measures for the children identified in the videos.