In its findings, the panel urged the Ministries of Home Affairs and Electronics and Information Technology to adopt stricter verification procedures for users on social media, dating, and gaming platforms.
This recommendation stems from a report by the Parliamentary Committee on the Empowerment of Women, which investigated ‘Cyber Crimes and Cyber Safety of Women.’
The committee highlights that the existence of fake profiles and anonymous abuse is primarily due to the ability of users to create accounts without providing proof of identity.
The committee noted that fake or unverified accounts significantly contribute to online crimes, including cyberstalking, online abuse, trolling, identity theft, and the unauthorized sharing of private images.
“Online harassment, trolling, identity theft, threats, fake profiles, and identity theft have become prevalent on social media,” the report stated.
To address these issues, the committee has strongly advocated for mandatory KYC (Know Your Customer) verification on platforms like social media, dating applications, and gaming apps. Similar to banks requiring ID verification, these apps may also necessitate users to confirm their identity.
“Platforms should conduct periodic re-verification and flag accounts at high risk that are frequently reported for abuse,” the committee emphasized.
“Strict licensing regulations and age-verification protocols should be instituted for dating and gaming applications, along with penalties for platforms that fail to protect women and minors from fraudulent or coercive activities,” it added.
Users will now be required to verify their identity akin to banking practices. Accounts will be associated with KYC information and will include age verification. Platforms will verify a user’s age prior to granting access. This measure helps shield minors from inappropriate content, especially in dating or gaming applications.
“KYC should be obligatory on all social media platforms, and a rapid complaint resolution mechanism should be established,” the report concluded.
