Assam DGP Urges Digital Parenting Over Policing at Landmark Event on Children's Online Rights

Guwahati :Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Harmeet Singh emphasized the need for responsible digital parenting and collaborative action to safeguard children online during his keynote speech at "Infantia," India’s first national dialogue on children’s internet rights, held on April 7.Singh called for a shift in mindset from confrontation to cooperation. “Activism shouldn’t be a battle against the system—it should be a joint effort to build a better society,” he said, recounting the genesis of Assam’s pioneering Shishu Mitra programme. The initiative began in 2017 after an activist approached him with concerns about police behavior. It formally evolved into the Shishu Mitra Centre in 2021, which now helps officers handle child-related cases effectively, from FIR registration to securing convictions.Alongside Shishu Mitra, Singh also highlighted Nagrik Mitra, a digital outreach initiative under Assam Police’s Smart Social Media Centre, aimed at strengthening citizen engagement.Addressing parental behavior online, Singh introduced the concept of "sharenting"—the excessive sharing of children’s information by parents on digital platforms—and encouraged parents to reflect on their own online habits.He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reshaped children’s digital habits. “Adults moved back to the real world after the lockdowns, but children stayed online. That’s where their lives are now,” Singh remarked.He criticized outdated digital bans in educational institutions, citing a personal disagreement with a Guwahati school principal who prohibited students from using social media. “We shouldn’t isolate children from the digital space—they need guidance on navigating it safely,” he said.Singh also warned of online threats such as Problematic Internet Use (PIU), cyber grooming, and toxic content including incel ideologies and influencers like Andrew Tate. “If your child is following people like him on Instagram, it’s time to act,” he cautioned.Quoting Whitney Houston’s Greatest Love of All, Singh reminded the audience of the importance of nurturing the next generation in both physical and digital environments. He urged parents to build trust and maintain open communication, stating, “If you talk to them openly, they will naturally share with you.”