{
  "id": 11820964,
  "title": "Onus on state to protect kids from online harm, IHC told",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/onus-on-state-to-protect-kids-from-online-harm-ihc-told",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-04T01:18:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2034595/onus-on-state-to-protect-kids-from-online-harm-ihc-told"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) has advised the Islamabad High Court that it is the state's responsibility to safeguard children from online grooming, exploitation, and exposure to harmful content. In a 17-page response submitted to the court, the commission addressed a case concerning social media usage by children under the age of 16. The NCRC acknowledged the petition's concerns and emphasized the necessity for robust age verification mechanisms and a comprehensive regulatory framework to ensure online child safety. To tackle technology-enabled child exploitation, the commission proposed strengthening the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency's capacity and establishing specialized systems for investigating online child sexual exploitation. Moreover, the commission recommended amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) in the context of child rights, aiming to enhance the legal framework for online child protection. Digital platforms were urged to assume greater accountability for child safety, and immediate measures were suggested to remove child sexual abuse material and curb online grooming. The commission stressed the importance of balancing children's digital rights with their protection online, asserting that legal and institutional measures were essential for effective child safety. The case is being represented by advocates Muhammad Jalal Haider and Yahya Farid.",
  "summary": "• NCRC recommends boosting NCCIA capacity, setting up special units for exploitation probes • Proposes Peca review from child rights perspective • Urges integrating age verification into Digital Nation Pakistan Act ISLAMABAD: Protecting minors from online grooming, exploitation and harmful content is the state’s responsibility, the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) told the…",
  "key_points": [
    "State must protect children from online harm, IHC instructed",
    "NCRC advises Islamabad High Court on child online safety",
    "Recommends age verification, legal framework, and platform accountability"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "Onus on state to protecting minors from online exploitation, harmful content, IHC told",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/onus-on-state-to-protecting-minors-from-online-exploitation-harmful",
        "published": "2026-10-04T02:10:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}