New Delhi, July 12: The Modi government approved a new definition for child pornography to ensure punishment for person(s) possessing or sharing sexually explicit content involving children under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The new definition of child pornography is included in the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Amendment Bill that was approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday.

The new definition for child porn reads, "Any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child which include photographs, video, digital or computer-generated image indistinguishable from an actual child and an image created, adapted or modified but appear to depict a child." "An image created, adapted, modified" to depict a child would also be treated as child pornography, says the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Amendment Bill. Child Pornography Racket Busted by Kerala Police; 12 Arrested.

The Bill, which is likely to be tabled in Parliament in the current session, proposes more stringent punishment for committing sexual crimes against children including the death penalty. Under the amended law, when passed, any person who stores or possesses pornographic material in any form involving a child and doesn't delete or destroy or report the same will be fined anywhere between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. POCSO Act 2012 Amendment is An Eyewash? As a Society We Need to Act From ‘Swachh Bharat’ to ‘Savdhaan Bharat’.

Child pornography is not defined under Section 67 of the IT Act and Section 293 of the Indian Penal Code. The amended POCSO law will also apply to pornographic content where adults or young adults pretend to be children, said a spokesperson of the Women and Child Development Ministry.

"It is the WCD Minister's (Smriti Irani's) initiative that from now there will be zero tolerance for child pornography and for that reason the definition of child pornography was essential as definition leads to setting the context of the crime. Only prescribing punishment leads to possibility that the case may get entangled in inconclusive legal battles," the spokesperson said.

The POCSO Act, 2012 was enacted to protect children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography with due regard for safeguarding the interest and well-being of children. The Act defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age, and regards the best interests and welfare of the child as matter of paramount importance at every stage, to ensure the healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the child.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 12, 2019 04:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).