New Delhi, September 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of a complaint alleging that children aged between three and 12 years were being systematically used to create and circulate social media videos through an Instagram account reportedly operated from the Marchra area of Etah district in Uttar Pradesh.
An NHRC Bench headed by Member Priyank Kanoongo has issued notices to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Etah, the District Magistrate, Etah, the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and the Managing Director and Country Head of Meta India. They have been asked to submit Action Taken Reports within two weeks.
The complaint, filed by Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation, alleged that minor children, including those from socially and economically vulnerable backgrounds, were being made to appear in videos containing abusive, derogatory and politically charged expressions. It alleged that the children were scripted, tutored and prompted to repeat such expressions before the videos were uploaded and circulated publicly.
The NHRC said that if established, the allegations raise serious concerns regarding the care, protection and dignity of children and their alleged use by adults for creating and amplifying digital content.
The commission directed the Etah SSP to verify the allegations, identify the children appearing in the videos and, wherever required, produce them before the competent Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for assessment of their safety, care and well-being. It also directed that counselling and psychosocial support be provided through the CWC or District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), while protecting the children’s identities and privacy.
Police have been asked to identify the persons operating or controlling the Instagram account and those involved in scripting, recording, uploading, circulating or otherwise facilitating or benefiting from the content. The role of parents or guardians, tuition or coaching operators and other adults is also to be examined.
The NHRC directed that the digital material be examined and that an FIR be registered if any cognisable offence is disclosed. Possible offences may be examined under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Information Technology Act, 2000, and other applicable laws.
The SSP was also directed to immediately preserve and lawfully collect relevant videos, account information, upload records and other digital evidence to prevent deletion or alteration of material that could affect the investigation.
The commission separately asked Meta India to examine the Instagram account and the content involving the minors and explain how such material was allowed to be uploaded, repeatedly circulated and remain accessible. Meta has also been asked to disclose whether the account generated any monetisation, advertising revenue, commercial benefit or other financial gain.
The platform has been directed to report action taken against content found to violate applicable law or child-safety policies, while preserving relevant account and content data for lawful investigation. It has also been asked to provide, upon lawful request, available registration details, login or access records, IP or device information and upload records.
MeitY has been asked to examine the reported repeated use of children, particularly those described in the complaint as being from vulnerable backgrounds, as well as the platform’s due diligence, child-safety and grievance-redressal mechanisms.
The NHRC emphasised that the children should primarily be treated as children requiring protection and assessment, with the investigation focused on identifying the adults or other persons responsible for scripting, creating, uploading, controlling or allegedly commercially exploiting the content.
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