Enacted in 2012, the Act was amended in 2019, with the aim to curb child pornography and implement stringent measures against individuals guilty of committing or recording sexual crimes against children.

Supreme Court on September 23, 2024 held holds that storage and private viewing of child sexually exploitative abuse material an offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The apex court suggested Parliament consider amending the term 'child pornography' with "child sexually abusive and exploitative material" by bringing changes in law, and asked the courts not to use the term 'child pornography'.

Intention must be gathered from the circumstances. Justice Pardiwala read out the conclusions of the judgment as follows : Section 15 of the POCSO provides for three distinct offe

With its judgment, the two-judge bench set aside a Madras HC order quashing criminal proceedings against a man accused of downloading pornography involving children.

The Supreme Court will pronounce on Monday its verdict on a plea challenging a Madras High Court ruling that watching child pornography in private would not fall within the scope of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The Supreme Court has urged Parliament to amend the POCSO Act, replacing 'child pornography' with 'child sexual exploitative and abuse material (CSEAM)' to better reflect the nature of the crime. The court also ruled that merely viewing or storing such material with intent to share or profit is an offence under the Act.