Kochi: The 18th edition of c0c0n 2025, one of India’s most prominent cybersecurity conferences jointly organized by the Kerala Police and ISRA, opened on Friday in Kochi. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan inaugurated the event and unveiled a landmark 55-page report titled “National Strategy Against Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse”, developed by the Kerala Police with a national outlook.
A Call for Indigenous Cyber Defense
In his inaugural address, Mohan highlighted the escalating sophistication of cybercriminals and their growing reliance on anonymity tools, encryption, and cryptocurrency to evade detection. He underscored the urgent need for indigenous technological solutions to tackle emerging cyber threats and ensure India’s digital resilience.
“While the challenges are grave, the response is equally swift and effective,” he said, commending the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and the cybersecurity community.
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A National Blueprint to Protect Children Online
The report released by the Union Home Secretary offers a comprehensive overview of the evolving online threats targeting children. It reveals how the same digital tools that connect society are being misused to produce, trade, and distribute Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), and to groom or exploit minors.
Among its major recommendations is the creation of a National Victim Identification Database, designed to centralize information on victims and offenders involved in online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA). The proposed database would integrate the efforts of the CBI and State Police cyber units, and eventually link with Interpol’s International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database, which India joined in July 2022.
Currently, access to the ICSE system is limited to central agencies, leaving state police forces unable to fully utilize it. The strategy emphasizes that extending access to state units would strengthen investigations, reduce duplication, and accelerate victim identification.
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Victim-Centric and Technology-Driven Approach
The Kerala Police’s proposed framework advocates for AI-based capabilities to automate victim and offender identification while ensuring sensitivity in handling child victims. It recommends one-time video recording of a child’s statement under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and POCSO Act, to minimize trauma and avoid repeated questioning.
The document also advises that child-friendly officers, preferably female or trained in child psychology, lead such cases to ensure a supportive and trauma-informed process.
Kerala DGP Ravada Chandrasekhar emphasized that cybersecurity has evolved into “a matter of public safety, not just a technical issue,” calling for stronger collaboration between government, industry, and civil society.
The session was chaired by Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden and attended by senior police officials including Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham, ADGP S. Sreejith, IG P. Prakash, City Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya, and SP (Cyber Operations) Ankit Asokan. Representatives from Childlight – Global Child Safety Institute were also present.
Global Alarms: Childlight’s Disturbing Findings
Adding to the urgency of the issue, Childlight – Global Child Safety Institute, University of Edinburgh, released its Index on Global Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse 2025 at the same conference.
The study revealed that one in eight children in South Asia have experienced rape or sexual assault during childhood — equating to nearly 54 million children in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. It found that 14.5% of women and 11.5% of men reported such experiences, highlighting the widespread and systemic nature of abuse in the region.
In 2024 alone, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh reported nearly 4.5 million CSAM incidents, according to Childlight. Alarmingly, there has been a 1,325% global rise in AI-generated CSAM between 2023 and 2024. The study also noted that while Maldives had the highest CSAM rate (94 reports per 10,000 people), India recorded the largest total volume of CSAM due to its vast population.
Childlight warned that AI-generated CSAM will surge further unless nations enact future-proof legislation to address new and emerging digital harms. “India will experience a steep increase in AI-generated CSAM. It’s crucial to build laws that anticipate these evolving threats,” said Prof. Deborah Fry, Global Director of Data and Professor of International Child Protection Research at Childlight.
Towards a Unified National Response
The National Strategy Against Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse lays down a clear roadmap to strengthen India’s cyber laws, investigative capacity, and victim protection measures. It calls for cross-border collaboration, inter-agency coordination, and rapid takedown mechanisms for online abuse materials.
The recommendations — spanning legal reforms, AI integration, and child-centric procedures — signal India’s intent to move from reactive to proactive digital policing in safeguarding children from online predators.
As c0c0n 2025 progresses with sessions, workshops, and live demonstrations, the conference underscores a powerful message: that combating cybercrime, especially crimes against children, demands collective vigilance, advanced technology, and unwavering empathy.
