Juvenile Cyber Offences
Juvenile Cyber Offences
1. Definition
Juvenile cyber offences are criminal activities carried out over digital platforms (such as computers, mobile devices, and the internet) by individuals who are below the age of 18. These offences can include cyberbullying, hacking, identity theft, online harassment, data theft, distribution of obscene content, and more.
2. Legal Framework in India
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015: Governs the treatment and trial of minors involved in offences.
Information Technology Act, 2000 (Amended in 2008): Deals with offences related to cybercrime.
Indian Penal Code (IPC): Applies depending on the nature of the offence (e.g., cheating, defamation, etc.)
Under Section 15 of the JJ Act, if a juvenile above the age of 16 commits a heinous offence (punishable with imprisonment of 7 years or more), a Juvenile Justice Board may decide whether the child should be tried as an adult or not.
Notable Cases of Juvenile Cyber Offences (Explained in Detail)
Case 1: The Mumbai Teen PUBG Cyberbullying Case (2020)
Facts:
A 16-year-old boy from Mumbai used the game PUBG to connect with other teenagers. He created a fake female profile and began cyberbullying his classmates, threatening to release morphed pictures and spreading rumors online. Several students complained after experiencing severe emotional trauma.
Legal Outcome:
The boy was arrested under sections of the IT Act related to online harassment, along with IPC sections on criminal intimidation. As he was under 18, he was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. The Board ordered counseling and psychological evaluation, and he was sent to a juvenile home for observation.
Significance:
This case highlighted the dangers of anonymity in online games and the increasing trend of juvenile involvement in cyberbullying.
Case 2: Gurugram 12-Year-Old Hacking School System (2019)
Facts:
A 12-year-old student in Gurugram hacked into his school’s internal grading system and changed marks for himself and two friends. He used his father’s office computer and phishing techniques he learned from YouTube tutorials.
Legal Outcome:
Though the offence was serious (unauthorized access and data manipulation), due to the boy’s age, he was not tried as a criminal. The Juvenile Justice Board recommended rehabilitation, counseling, and digital education awareness.
Significance:
This case exposed how digital literacy without ethical grounding can lead minors into criminal behavior. It also emphasized the role of parental supervision.
Case 3: The Delhi Instagram "Bois Locker Room" Case (2020)
Facts:
An Instagram group named "Bois Locker Room" was created by schoolboys to share obscene and sexually explicit images of girls (many underage), along with derogatory comments. Some conversations even involved discussions about sexual assault.
Legal Outcome:
Several juveniles were identified and questioned. One was detained under Section 67 of the IT Act (publishing obscene material) and IPC sections 354 and 509. However, due to their age, they were dealt with by the Juvenile Justice Board. The main outcome was counseling, and warnings were issued to parents and schools to ensure better monitoring of students’ online behavior.
Significance:
This case gained national attention and revealed the dark side of teenage digital behavior, peer pressure, and lack of moral education regarding gender sensitivity.
Case 4: Hyderabad Online Game Theft Case (2021)
Facts:
A 17-year-old boy addicted to online games like Free Fire and Call of Duty used his parents’ and neighbors’ debit card details (gleaned via phishing and social engineering) to purchase in-game currency worth over ₹2.5 lakhs.
Legal Outcome:
The boy was charged with cheating and unauthorized use of data under the IT Act and IPC. However, he was not tried as an adult. The Juvenile Justice Board ordered digital ethics classes and community service.
Significance:
This case is often cited to show how online gaming addiction can lead to cyber offences and how juveniles need better awareness about cyber financial frauds.
Case 5: Kolkata Sextortion Case by Minor (2022)
Facts:
A 17-year-old boy befriended multiple girls online through fake Instagram profiles and coerced them into sending explicit images. He then blackmailed them, threatening to make the images viral if they didn’t pay money or send more content.
Legal Outcome:
The cybercrime unit traced the IP address, and the boy was apprehended. The Juvenile Justice Board treated the case as a heinous offence (due to elements of sexual exploitation and extortion), and a preliminary assessment was made on whether he had the mental maturity to understand the crime.
Significance:
This case reinforced the blurred line between juvenile pranks and serious sexual offences in cyberspace. It also called attention to the vulnerability of young girls online.
Case 6: Bengaluru School Email Bomb Threat Case (2023)
Facts:
A 14-year-old student, annoyed at upcoming exams, sent an anonymous bomb threat email to his school using a VPN and temporary email ID. The school was evacuated, and police and bomb squads were involved.
Legal Outcome:
Though no bomb was found, the boy was booked under IPC sections related to public mischief and criminal intimidation and IT Act provisions. Since the act caused public panic, the Juvenile Board took it seriously and ordered both psychiatric evaluation and juvenile detention for a short period, followed by reformative measures.
Significance:
This case emphasized that cyber pranks can have legal consequences, even if the offender is a minor.
Key Takeaways
1. Nature of Crimes:
Juvenile cyber offences are increasingly diverse:
Cyberbullying
Hacking
Identity theft
Sextortion
Financial fraud
Online sexual harassment
2. Legal Challenges:
Differentiating between childish mischief and serious criminal intent
Determining the mental maturity of the juvenile
Balancing reformation vs. punishment
3. Societal and Parental Role:
Need for digital ethics education in schools
Parental monitoring of devices and social media use
Creating awareness about legal consequences among teens
4. Judicial Trends:
Courts and Juvenile Boards often focus on:
Rehabilitation over incarceration
Counseling, community service
Mental health assessment
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