Social Media KYC: Can KYC for Facebook and Instagram prevent incidents like the one in Nagpur?

While social media has served to connect people, it has increasingly begun to cause harm. A recent incident in Nagpur has highlighted the need for mandatory KYC (Know Your Customer) verification for social media accounts. Experts argue that implementing e-KYC for accounts on platforms like Facebook and Instagram could help curb incidents like the one in Nagpur, where a 16-year-old minor is now fighting for her life.

First, let us understand what exactly happened in Nagpur that shook the entire nation. Recently, a young man created a social media account using a false identity and befriended the daughter of an official. After communicating for a few days and gaining her trust, he invited the 16-year-old girl to meet him and confined her in a flat. He held her captive for over 24 hours, during which he assaulted and sexually abused her. The perpetrator was apprehended thanks to the quick thinking of a pizza delivery person, and the girl is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital. This incident has reignited the debate over making e-KYC mandatory for social media accounts.

**What does e-KYC mean?**
Social media e-KYC would be conducted in the same manner as it is for bank accounts or LPG connections. This means that if you wish to create an account on platforms like Facebook or Instagram, you would be required to use your government-issued ID. You would need to verify your identity using documents such as Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, or a passport, thereby helping to curb the creation of fake accounts.

**Reduction in online crimes**
Implementing e-KYC for social media accounts would also help curb online crimes and digital fraud. It would make it easier to identify individuals involved in such cases and help prevent criminal activity. Currently, scammers and fraudsters create accounts using fake names to entrap people and commit crimes. Mandating KYC for all accounts could significantly curb such incidents.

**Identifying Minors**
Minors pose the biggest challenge on social media. Across various platforms—from Facebook to Instagram—minors often create accounts while concealing their true identities. Consequently, due to a lack of maturity, they easily fall prey to fraudsters and criminals. Revealing the identities of such minors would lead to the suspension of a large number of accounts and help check various types of crimes. It would also prevent minors from accessing objectionable content. However, some experts also believe that e-KYC could give rise to risks regarding privacy and data leaks.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Dainik Jagran. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.