MARGAO: The Goa Child Rights Commission has upscaled and red flagged cyber bullying, sexual exploitation and harassment of children within online gaming communities
The Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) chairperson Peter F Borges, drew attention to the exploitation of children’s trust and vulnerability by predators in gaming spaces, leading to risks of sexual exploitation, trafficking, or coercion, at the National Conference on Child Rights and Well-being in Online Gaming and eSports in India, by the CyberPeace Foundation and UNICEF
Participating in the youth session “Regulating Online Gaming and Balancing Innovation and Child Protection”, Borges discussed the desensitisation to violence and neglect of essential responsibilities resulting from excessive gaming, advocating for balanced gaming habits and robust moderation and reporting systems.
The panel highlighted and underlined the need for proactive measures to protect children from exploitation, violence, and neglect in online gaming and emphasised the importance of promoting digital literacy and fostering open communication between children, parents, and gaming communities, affirming the necessity of prioritising child protection in the regulation of online gaming for a safer digital landscape.