Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Peter F. Borges, Chairperson of the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, made a significant contribution to the National Conference on Child Rights and Well-being in Online Gaming and eSports in India. The event, hosted at the Jacaranda Hall, India Habitat Center, New Delhi, was organized by the CyberPeace Foundation and UNICEF, bringing together experts and stakeholders to address critical concerns regarding child safety in online gaming.
Borges, an expert in child protection, participated as a panel speaker in the youth session titled “Regulating Online Gaming and Balancing Innovation and Child Protection.” Moderated by Mr. Dhruv Garg of the All-India Gaming Federation, the session featured a distinguished panel, including Mr. Nisheeth Dixit, Advocate, Cyber, Supreme Court; Ms. Aditi Singh Tomar, Operational Manager, Dream Esports, India; and Adv. Khushboo Jain, Director-Legal & Compliance, Data Protection Officer at Fintech- India and MENA.
In his address, Borges offered insights on gaming from the perspective of child protection, stressing the imperative need for regulatory measures to safeguard children in virtual environments. He highlighted the prevalence of issues such as verbal harassment, cyberbullying, and sexual exploitation within online gaming communities, emphasizing their detrimental impact on children’s mental and emotional well-being.
Borges also drew attention to the exploitation of children’s trust and vulnerability by predators in gaming spaces, leading to risks of sexual exploitation, trafficking, or coercion. He further discussed the desensitization to violence and neglect of essential responsibilities resulting from excessive gaming, advocating for balanced gaming habits and robust moderation and reporting systems.
In his concluding remarks, Borges reiterated the significance of proactive measures to protect children from exploitation, violence, and neglect in online gaming. He emphasized the importance of promoting digital literacy and fostering open communication between children, parents, and gaming communities, affirming the necessity of prioritizing child protection in the regulation of online gaming for a safer digital landscape.
