Child rights body summons Facebook officials over Rahul Gandhi's Instagram post

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has summoned Facebook officials for not responding to its notice flagging Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Instagram post. The post allegedly revealed the identity of a nine-year-old rape and murder victim.

The apex child rights body had earlier sent a notice to Facebook on August 4, which owns the photo-sharing platform, seeking action against Gandhi's profile for posting a photo of the victim's family over the alleged violation of the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act 2015, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act 2012 and the Indian Penal Code. They further demanded the removal of the video. As per Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act 2015, the disclosure of the identity of a child in any form of media is prohibited. Section 23 of the POCSO Act 2012 also states that no information or photo of a child must be published in any form of media which could reveal their identity. This information under Section 23 of the POCSO Act includes his/her name, address, photograph, family details, school, neighbourhood or any other particulars that may lead to the disclosure of the identity of the child.

"However, no reply/action taken report has been received by you," the commission said in its follow-up letter.

Twitter had suspended Rahul Gandhi's account following the complaint. However, it has now been restored after a week.

Last week, Gandhi had met the victim's family, posted a picture of the meeting on Twitter, and wrote, "Parents' tears are saying only one thing their daughter, the daughter of this country, deserves justice. And I am with them on this path to justice".

Facebook officials have been asked to appear in person at 5 pm on Tuesday at the NCPCR office in Janpath or through video conferencing with details of the action taken.

The victim died when she went to get water from a cooler at a crematorium in the Old Nangal area in southwest Delhi. The girl's parents have alleged that she was raped and her body cremated by a crematorium priest. Locals, including the victim's parents, have been protesting near the site of the incident, demanding capital punishment for the accused.