“FROM COURTROOM TO CYBERSPACE: THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POCSO ACT”

AUTHOR – CHANDAN KUMAR, STUDENT AT AMITY UNIVERSITY

BEST CITATION – CHANDAN KUMAR, “FROM COURTROOM TO CYBERSPACE: THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POCSO ACT”, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (13) OF 2025, PG. 634-638, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344
Abstract

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) changed India’s approach to child sexual abuse by establishing a focused framework that acknowledged both traditional and tech-based forms of exploitation. Before POCSO, child protection was scattered, mainly depending on the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. Neither of these laws dealt with the complexities of crimes in the digital world. The rise of the internet, smartphones, and social media has made children more at risk for online grooming, trafficking, and sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). At the same time, technology has also improved the fight against child abuse through awareness campaigns, confidential reporting systems, forensic analysis, digital evidence preservation, and child-friendly court procedures. This paper examines the link between technology and child protection under POCSO, looking at its role in prevention, reporting, investigation, trial, and rehabilitation. It also compares the legal frameworks before and after POCSO, reviews judicial interpretations, and discusses the connection between POCSO and the Information Technology Act, 2000. Lastly, the article highlights ongoing challenges such as privacy, extraterritorial jurisdiction, and the digital divide, while proposing ways to create a more resilient and child-focused digital legal environment.

Keywords: POCSO Act, Child Sexual Abuse, Technology and Law, Digital Evidence, Online Grooming, Child Pornography, Cybercrime, Forensic Investigation, Victim Protection, Information Technology Act.