April 3rd 2025 Editorial

GS Paper II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations)

Introduction

The UK’s Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology and the AI Safety Institute released the International AI Safety Report (updated February 18, 2025).
The report highlights the risks associated with AI-generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
The UK is introducing new legislation targeting threats posed by AI tools that generate CSAM.
Reports from the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) emphasize the increasing danger of AI-generated deepfake child abuse content.

Recent Developments

The UK’s legislation will criminalize the possession, generation, and distribution of AI-generated CSAM.
The law ensures that AI-generated CSAM is treated the same as real CSAM.
A study reveals that AI-generated CSAM creates loopholes in existing child protection laws.
A report by the Coroners and Justice Act (2009) outlines challenges in defining what qualifies as prohibited images of children.
The UK’s proposal clarifies that AI-generated CSAM should be treated as unlawful, unlike existing laws which apply only to real children.

India’s Current Legal Framework and Challenges

India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Report 2022 shows a rise in cybercrimes against children.
The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) has seen an increase in cases involving deepfake and AI-generated pornography.
The NCRB 2019 report showed a five-fold rise in child pornography cases.
Many states lack adequate cyber-policing infrastructure, making it difficult to combat AI-generated CSAM.
Statistics from the WeProtect Global Alliance indicate that India ranks among the top three in child sexual abuse material consumption.

The Need for Legal Reform in India

India’s Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 do not explicitly address AI-generated CSAM.
Legal experts recommend updating Section 67B of the IT Act to include AI-generated child abuse material.
The NCRB’s Advisory (October 2023) suggests replacing the term “child pornography” with “CSAM” to cover AI-generated material.
Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) criminalizes obscene content but does not specifically address AI-generated child exploitation.

Proposed Solutions and Future Steps

● India must update its laws to keep up with emerging threats like AI-generated CSAM.

● The IT Ministry and AI Ethics Committees should collaborate on new frameworks to combat AI-driven child abuse.

● Strengthening the “Digital India Act” could help regulate AI-generated CSAM.

● Public awareness campaigns should be launched to educate internet users about AI-driven threats.

● Collaboration with global cybersecurity agencies is necessary to track and prevent AI-generated child abuse material.

conclusion: This summary captures the key points of the article regarding the dangers of AI-driven child exploitation and the legal challenges in combating it. Let me know if you need further elaboration

Discuss the legal and ethical challenges posed by AI-generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Suggest measures to strengthen India’s legal framework to tackle this issue. (250 words)

General Studies (GS) Paper 2 – International Relations & Trade

Summary of the Editorial – “The Reciprocal Tariff Dilemma”

Concept of Reciprocal Tariffs

The ‘Fair and Reciprocal Plan’ by the Trump administration aimed to assess and counter “non-reciprocal” trading arrangements.
Non-reciprocal trading includes tariffs, discriminatory taxes, subsidies, exchange rate manipulations, and other trade barriers that restrict U.S. market access.
The plan sought to impose reciprocal tariffs when foreign tariffs were lower than U.S. tariffs.

U.S. Share in Global Exports

In 2010, 27% of global merchandise exports were to the U.S., which increased to 31.4% in 2022.
Currently, 87% of global merchandise exports are from economies that do not include the U.S.
The U.S. is the dominant export destination for Canada, Mexico, Guyana, and Bermuda (85% of their exports go to the U.S.).
In contrast, 81 out of 160 countries analyzed had less than 10% of their exports directed to the U.S.

Tariff Comparison and Imbalances

UNCTAD TRAINS 2022 data was used to compare tariffs.
In 27 partner countries, the average import-weighted tariffs on U.S. exports were higher than the corresponding U.S. tariffs.
Reciprocal tariffs act as a negotiation tool when U.S. tariffs are lower than those in partner countries.

Limitations of Tariff-Based Analysis

Tariff-based analysis ignores non-tariff barriers, regulatory policies, and trade agreements that impact market access.
S. businesses could divert exports to other countries in response to reciprocal tariffs, potentially harming their own economy.
While reciprocal tariffs may target key markets, they may not fully address trade imbalances.

Impact on Trade and Policy Considerations

57 countries, including China and India, had less than a 1% tariff differential, meaning the impact of reciprocal tariffs would be minimal.
To match the effect of reciprocal tariffs on all trade partners, the remaining 73 countries would have to raise their bilateral tariffs by more than 5%.

Optimal Policy Response

Instead of reciprocal tariffs, countries should focus on removing trade barriers internally and with non-U.S. partners.
A comprehensive regulatory approach is needed rather than selective tariff adjustments.
The World Bank and WTO support digital services trade liberalization as a better alternative to reciprocal tariffs.
Future trade policies should emphasize cross-border regulatory coherence rather than retaliatory tariffs.

Conclusion

Reciprocal tariffs alone cannot resolve trade imbalances and could have unintended consequences.
A broader strategy that includes regulatory alignment and reducing internal trade barriers is a better approach.

Practice mains question:

Discuss the concept of reciprocal tariffs and their implications on global trade relations. How can such policies impact emerging economies? (250 words)