Child sexual exploitation in the digital era: Reassessing the POCSO Act, 2012 in the context of cyber grooming, online abuse and emerging technologies

The expansion of digital communication has transformed the ways in which children learn, socialise and participate in public life. It has also created new pathways for sexual exploitation, including cyber grooming, sexualised messaging, coercive image-sharing, livestreamed abuse, sexual extortion, circulation of child sexual abuse material and the misuse of artificial intelligence to generate or manipulate sexualised images. These practices challenge conventional approaches to child protection because harmful conduct may begin online, cross national borders, involve anonymous or pseudonymous actors, and produce continuing harm through repeated circulation of digital material. This paper critically examines the capacity of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) to respond to online sexual abuse and exploitation in India. It adopts a doctrinal and analytical method, drawing on statutory provisions, constitutional principles, relevant judicial approaches, international standards and selected secondary literature. Particular attention is given to sections 11 and 12 of the POCSO Act, provisions relating to pornographic purposes and storage of material under sections 13–15, mandatory reporting, child-friendly procedures, and the relationship between POCSO and section 67B of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The paper argues that the existing framework offers important legal tools but requires clearer operational guidance, stronger digital-evidence practices, coordinated institutional response, child-sensitive reporting pathways and technology-specific safeguards. It recommends a rights-based model that combines criminal accountability with prevention, privacy, rehabilitation and the best interests of the child. The analysis distinguishes established legal provisions from proposed reforms and does not treat policy recommendations as findings of empirical fieldwork.