On Friday, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar shared a disturbing real-life online harassment incident with his 13-year-old daughter who was playing a video game. The actor highlighted the growing threat of cybercrime and the potential harm it may cause to children.
The actor recalled how a few months ago, his daughter, while playing an online video game, was approached by an unknown person who asked her if she was a female. After responding, an unknown person asked her to send pictures of herself.
The actor said his daughter immediately shut down the device and informed her mother. The actor shared the incident while addressing the Cyber Safety Awareness Program in Mumbai. The actor shared that the issue of cybercrime is growing rapidly, and there is a need for schools to educate children about it.
During his speech, which was shared by news agency ANI, Akshay said, “I want to tell you all a small incident which happened at my house a few months back. My daughter was playing a video game, and there are some video games that allow you to play with others. You are playing with an unknown stranger. While you are playing, sometimes a message comes from there, like How are you and Where are you from… Then, suddenly, a message came, ‘Are you male or female?’ So she replied Female. And then there was a message which read, ‘Can you send me nude pictures of yours?’ It was my daughter. She switched off the whole thing, and she went and told my wife.”
Akshay went on to add, “This is how things begin. This is also a part of cybercrime… I would request the Chief Minister that in our Maharashtra state, every week on the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth standards, there should be a period called cyber period where children should be explained about it. You all know that this crime is becoming bigger than street crime. It is very important to stop this crime.”
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#WATCH | Mumbai | Actor Akshay Kumar says, “I want to tell you all a small incident which happened at my house a few months back. My daughter was playing a video game, and there are some video games that you can play with someone. You are playing with an unknown stranger. While… pic.twitter.com/z9sV2c9yC6
— ANI (@ANI) October 3, 2025
Cybercrime against children is a troubling dilemma in India. The latest National Crime Records Bureau report shows that cybercrime cases are rising to the highest level yet, even as crime against children also hit a new peak. India registered 86,420 cybercrime cases in 2023, a 31% jump in 2022. Alongside the surge in cybercrime cases, India’s children were faced with own set of new challenges. NCRB data shows 177,335 cases of crime against children in 2023, up 9.2% from the previous year. The national rate rose to 39.9 cases per lakh children compared to 36.6 in 2022. Kidnapping and abduction remain in the single largest category accounting for nearly 45%. Offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act followed closely with 38.2%.
Together, these two crime heads accounted for more than four of the five reported offences against children. Madhya Pradesh reported the highest number of crimes against children in 2023 with 22,393 cases, followed by Maharashtra with 22,390 cases. Whether in the digital domain or child safety, offences are rising faster than investigative and prosecutorial capacity. Fraud-driven cyber offences, fuelled by expanding digital payments and persistent crimes against children led by kidnapping and sexual exploitation, dominate India’s safety map. The numbers are stark. Every day in 2023, India recorded nearly 237 cyber crime cases and 486 crimes against children.