• Terrorism

If someone is on an app where a depiction of someone is being harmed repeatedly and they are arab and muslim and the person harming them pretends to be in the mossad but a group of children are staying on the app on and off after telling the authorities because they are worried about the depiction influencing people then would they be liable
Asked 2 months ago in Intellectual Property

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9 Answers

In the UK, merely viewing or being exposed to harmful content on an app does not normally make a viewer criminally liable, especially children.
Liability arises if someone:
Shares, uploads, or distributes illegal content (e.g. extremist propaganda under the Terrorism Act 2006).
Actively encourages terrorism or hatred (e.g. hate speech under the Public Order Act 1986).
If the children are only passively on the app or monitoring it after reporting to authorities, they are not committing an offence.
Staying on the app intermittently out of concern is not illegal, though parents or authorities might advise them to stop for safety reasons.

As UK law, Children who:

Report harmful or extremist content to authorities,then remain intermittently on the app out of concern, are not criminally or civilly liable just for viewing or monitoring it.
The liability rests with the creators, uploaders, or platform operators of the harmful content.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89956 Answers
2490 Consultations

  1. The person  harming depiction is absolutely liable under local laws. Religion of victims is not at all relevant.
  2. Children remaining on the app will not make them accountable.
  3. The person harmed have every right to raise the  issue with authorities.

Everyone has right against harm to his depiction in all jurisprudences of the  world. That is the  basic principle of established law.

Ravi Shinde
Advocate, Hyderabad
5121 Answers
42 Consultations

Children under age of 16 should not be permitted to have access to app where Muslims are repeatedly victim of violence .

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99754 Answers
8141 Consultations

Yes if reputation is harmed you can proceed against them for defamation etc. Even if any religious sentiments are harmed it could possibly book into such sections

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
34493 Answers
248 Consultations

From a legal perspective, liability depends on the jurisdiction and the specific laws applicable:

  1. If the app knowingly hosts content promoting hate, violence, terrorism, or incitement against a religious or ethnic group, the platform and individuals responsible can be held liable under anti-terrorism, hate speech, and IT laws, including Sections 66, 66A, 69, 153A, 295A of the Indian IT Act (or equivalent laws elsewhere), and counter-terrorism legislation.

  2. Individuals who consume or stay on such apps are not automatically liable unless they actively promote, facilitate, or participate in grooming or terrorist activities. Presence or passive viewing alone does not constitute criminal liability in most jurisdictions.

  3. If children are targeted or used by perpetrators as tools to facilitate pedophilia, exploitation, or radicalization, perpetrators can be charged under child protection laws (POCSO Act in India) and anti-terror laws. It is a criminal offence to use minors to facilitate or commit abuses or terrorism.

  4. Legal separation of victims turned offenders (like child-to-groomer transitioning) requires evidence in investigations and judicial proceedings, including expert assessments and proof of intent or acts. Merely the history of victimhood does not grant immunity for subsequent crimes.

  5. Authorities should be promptly informed of such apps and content for digital investigation and blocking/removal. Parents and guardians should monitor minors' internet access; platforms must follow content moderation and due diligence.

Hence, liability arises primarily with content hosts and active perpetrators. Merely "staying" on such an app, especially children who report to authorities, is not a chargeable offence but a concern for protection agencies. Each case requires careful factual and legal analysis.

Yuganshu Sharma
Advocate, Delhi
944 Answers
2 Consultations

Dear Client,

From your description, you do not need to worry about liability for the children since they are not creating, sharing, or promoting the violent or extremist content but have instead taken the responsible step of informing the authorities, they cannot be held responsible simply for seeing or being present on the app, and any legal exposure would rest with the creators or distributors of such harmful material, not with bystanders who are concerned and report it.

I hope this answer helps, for any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank You

Anik Miu
Advocate, Bangalore
11005 Answers
125 Consultations

Low Liability Risk - Children who reported the content to authorities likely have "reasonable excuse" defense under terrorism legislation, as reporting demonstrates legitimate concern rather than terrorist intent.

Enhanced Child Protections - UK law provides special protections for children in terrorism cases, recognizing their vulnerability and different treatment under justice systems.

Continued Usage Risk - Staying on the app after reporting weakens the reasonable excuse defense. The legitimate reason (monitoring influence on others) may not justify ongoing voluntary exposure to terrorist content.

Key Recommendations:

  • Stop using the app immediately unless authorities specifically request monitoring

  • Document all reporting attempts and official responses

  • If contacted by police, emphasize the reporting history and child protection motives

  • Seek immediate legal advice if questioned

Bottom Line: Initial reporting likely provides protection, but continued usage creates unnecessary legal risk. Children should cease app usage and rely on authorities to handle the content.

Shubham Goyal
Advocate, Delhi
2054 Answers
14 Consultations

Contact to local police 

Adarsh Kumar Mishra
Advocate, New Delhi
195 Answers

- As per law, any user who stumbles upon harmful or extremist content and then reports it to authorities are not considered as a crime.

- However, promoting and distributing/forwarding the said harmful consent can be considered a crime 

- In India, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) , the investigating agency can investigate and even arrest if someone appears to be knowingly spreading extremist content.

- Further, in UK , under the Terrorism Act 2006, it is a criminal offence to encourage terrorism, either directly or indirectly.

Mohammed Shahzad
Advocate, Delhi
15794 Answers
242 Consultations

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