Cybercrime cases targeting children have seen a sharp rise, increasing nearly eightfold from 232 in 2018 to 1,823 in 2022, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar shared National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, revealing that such cases rose steadily—306 in 2019, 1,102 in 2020, and 1,376 in 2021. Notably, cyber blackmail cases against children increased from just four in 2018 to 74 in 2022. Cyber pornography and publishing obscene content involving children surged from 44 to 1,171 cases in the same period, while cyber bullying and stalking rose from 40 to 158 cases.
Kumar stated that NCRB compiles these figures in its annual “Crime in India” report, the latest being from 2022. In response to questions about digital safety in the Northeast, especially tribal areas, he said the I4C, in collaboration with ISEA, is preparing a cyber hygiene booklet for schools and district centres. Efforts also include NCERT curriculum integration, awareness campaigns in local languages, and collaborations with FM channels, TV, and post offices across the Northeast to boost cyber awareness among children.
