Meta Enhances Child Safety Measures in India by Reporting to Cybercrime Portal
Meta's Commitment to Child Safety
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New Delhi, September 15: In response to a government initiative aimed at combating child sexual abuse and harmful online content, Meta has agreed to directly report child safety issues to the cybercrime portal operated by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C).
A representative from Meta emphasized that safeguarding children on their platforms is a top priority, stating, “We are dedicated to collaborating with the government to ensure that those responsible for these offenses are held accountable.”
According to the spokesperson, “To enhance our collective efforts against this issue, Meta will now relay child safety concerns directly to the I4C cybercrime portal.”
Meta, headquartered in the United States, is the first significant tech intermediary to establish a direct reporting channel to Indian law enforcement, as the government urges social media platforms to bolster protections and enhance accountability.
Currently, Meta reports child safety incidents to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the US.
Earlier on Tuesday, government officials indicated that Meta had consented to report child safety issues to relevant law enforcement bodies.
Officials stated that ensuring the online safety of children is a “core principle” for any social media platform operating in India and is entirely “non-negotiable.”
In July, the government issued a notice to Meta regarding Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) found in paid advertisements on Instagram.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) instructed Instagram to remove all ads and content that promote or facilitate access to CSEAM and requested a comprehensive explanation.
Following this, multiple discussions took place with Meta’s senior executives, during which the IT Ministry made it clear that such content is a violation and does not qualify for safe-harbour protection.
Earlier this month, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) summoned the Managing Director and Head of Meta India as part of its investigation into alleged advertisements related to child sexual exploitative and abuse material (CSEAM) on the platform.