Title: Child pornography through cyberspace - a comparative analysis of laws and criminal justice responses in India, USA, UK and Japan

Authors: Rupashree Sahoo; Paromita Chattoraj

Addresses: School of Law, KIIT (Deemed to be University), India ' School of Law, KIIT (Deemed to be University), India

Abstract: In India the number of cases of creating or storing child pornography in 2019 doubled from that of 2018, although, there are legislations like the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 as well as the Information Technology Act, 2000 that prohibit creation, viewing and circulation of child pornography. Some of the technologically advanced countries encountering higher prevalence of cyber child pornography have strict laws and standardised procedures for effective investigation and prosecution of cases. This paper focuses on the various facets of child pornography through cyber space in India in terms of definition and punishment for the offence and criminal justice response through the stages of reporting, investigation and court disposals. The comparative analysis of these aspects in India with already established systems of USA, UK and Japan, is made to critically evaluate where the Indian laws and criminal justice administration stands in tackling this offence.

Keywords: cyber child pornography; CCP; investigation; criminal justice; court disposals; USA; India; UK; Japan.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESDF.2022.125399

International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics, 2022 Vol.14 No.5, pp.433 - 455

Received: 04 Jun 2021
Accepted: 07 Sep 2021

Published online: 08 Sep 2022 *

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