The Gauteng High Court has issued a grave and necessary directive ordering Meta to deactivate specific Instagram accounts and WhatsApp channels identified as sources of explicit Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), widely recognised as child pornography.
This ruling, firmly supported by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies and the Film and Publication Board (FPB), reflects the critical need to confront the scourge of online child exploitation, a crime that has escalated alarmingly with the expansion of digital platforms.
Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele articulated the profound severity of this issue, stating, “With the development and expansion of digital technologies, the crime of online child exploitation and abuse has grown exponentially and has become the most insidious form of global, modern and borderless cybercrime. The psychological effects on victims of child pornography are long-lasting and devastating, hence we applaud the high court ruling,” Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele declared on Tuesday, 15 July 2025.
The Films and Publications Act explicitly defines child pornography as any image, regardless of its medium, or any description or representation depicting a child engaged in sexual activity, and it imposes severe penalties, including imprisonment and substantial fines, for the production, distribution, possession, or exposure of children to such material.
In a heartfelt plea, the Deputy Minister called for heightened vigilance, stating, “Parents and guardians are encouraged to regularly monitor their children’s online activities and educate them about harmful and prohibited content that could lead to their arrest as well as the long-term psychological effects of such content on victims.”
The FPB defines harmful content as material that causes emotional, psychological, or moral distress to individuals, whether distributed online or offline, including via the internet, while prohibited content includes material promoting propaganda for war, inciting imminent violence, advocating hatred based on identifiable group characteristics, or restricted under sections 16(2), 16(4), and 18(3) of the Act.
The FPB earnestly urges the public to report such material through its toll-free hotline at 0800 148 148 or via the WhatsApp Hotline Channel at 083 428 4767, with further reporting options available on the FPB website.
The Films and Publications Amendment Act, effective from 1 March 2022, has significantly strengthened the FPB’s mandate to regulate online content, including social media, by requiring platforms like Meta to register with the FPB and ensure content classification or obtain self-classification accreditation, with non-compliance carrying risks of fines or legal action.
This legislative framework is reinforced by the 2022 Disrupting Harm survey, conducted by ECPAT, Interpol, and UNICEF, which revealed that 95.3% of South African children aged 9–17 access the internet via mobile devices, and a distressing 56% have encountered sexual images online, with 8% sharing self-generated explicit photos or videos, often unaware of the risks of exploitation.
The survey further disclosed that one in five children faced online sexual harassment or grooming, highlighting the profound vulnerability of young users and the urgent need for stringent regulation to shield them from predators exploiting digital platforms. The South African Human Rights Commission has emphasised that exposure to CSAM inflicts severe psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress, amplifying the moral imperative of the court’s ruling to protect society’s most vulnerable.
Despite these robust measures, enforcement remains a formidable challenge, as global platforms often operate beyond South African jurisdiction, and the sheer volume of user-generated content complicates monitoring efforts.
In response, the FPB stated that it had conducted over 200 awareness campaigns in 2025, working to empower parents, educators, and communities with the tools to foster digital literacy and safeguard children.
These efforts, coupled with ongoing collaboration with law enforcement to combat CSAM, reflect a shared commitment to creating a safer online environment. The FPB further implored parents, schools, and communities to engage with its resources and called on platforms to adopt rigorous age verification and content moderation protocols, ensuring that the digital world becomes a place where children can explore, learn, and connect without fear of harm.
The fight against online child exploitation demands unwavering resolve and collective action. Every report of harmful content, every conversation about digital safety, and every step towards stricter platform accountability brings South Africa closer to a future where children are shielded from the perils of the digital age.
As a nation, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering a secure online landscape. By equipping families with knowledge, upholding robust legal frameworks, and demanding accountability from global platforms, we honour our duty to protect the innocence and future of South Africa’s children.
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