The Kerala Police have proposed to set up a National Victim Identification Framework as part of strengthening the measures to curb Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA). The State police have highlighted the need to create, using AI-based capabilities, a full-fledged database containing the images and videos of victims and offenders.
The proposal is part of the National Strategy Against Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse prepared by the Kerala Police and released at the c0c0n 2025 cybersecurity conference which began here on Friday.
“The database will bring together the Central Bureau of Investigation and the specialist units of the States into a national victim identification capability. This will create a sophisticated and nationally consistent approach in identifying victims and offenders,” the document states. The proposal has been made on the premise that the most difficult part of any investigation into crimes relating to OCSEA is the identification of victims and offenders primarily because of the international nature of the offences.
Access to State forces
The document has pointed out that once the national victim identification database is established, it can be linked with the Interpol’s international child sexual exploitation (ICSE) database which India has already joined. “The CBI, which is India’s nodal agency for Interpol matters, joined the database making India the 68th country to connect to it w.e.f July 2022. Access of ICSE is yet to be given to the States, even to those which are having established specialist units. Therefore, India’s contribution to and utilisation of ICSE database remains poor. Giving access to States’ police forces will result in more victim identifications by linking parallel inquiries and avoiding duplication of efforts in investigating material related to already solved cases,” the document states.
Sensitive to kids
The document has also proposed a victim-centric investigation practice which is sensitive to the children who have been identified as victims. “The police, for example, could be directed to use one-time video recording of the child’s statement (as allowed under BNSS and POCSO) so the child does not have to repeatedly recount traumatic details. Wherever possible, female officers or those trained in child psychology should lead interactions with child victims,” the Kerala Police’s strategy proposes.
Published - October 10, 2025 05:46 pm IST
