On Thursday, the NHRC Bench led by Priyank Kanoongo issued notices to the Senior Superintendent of Police, District Magistrate of Etah, Meta India's Managing Director, and the Secretary of MeitY after a complaint surfaced that children linked to a coaching centre in Etah were scripted into political Instagram videos.
The complaint alleges that the children, some as young as nine, were filmed in a staged manner, with scripts tailored to push political narratives, raising alarms over their dignity, privacy and psychological welfare.
The commission has called for an Action‑Taken Report from each agency within two weeks, and has directed the Etah police to identify the minors, ensure their protection and counselling, and investigate the adults who scripted, recorded, and uploaded the content.
Meta India has been asked to provide a detailed explanation on how the videos were repeatedly uploaded, what removal measures were applied, and whether any monetisation took place; if the inquiry finds a cognisable offence, the NHRC will register an FIR.
A 12‑year‑old boy from a nearby village, who was filmed in a school uniform, said his mother feared for his future after the videos spread online, underscoring the human cost behind the digital trail.