Meta Commits to Reporting Child Sexual Abuse Cases in India: Report

Meta has agreed to share cases involving child sexual abuse and other child-safety concerns with appropriate law enforcement authorities in India, government sources told ANI. 

The commitment comes as the Centre increases pressure on social media platforms to strengthen safeguards for children and respond to harmful online content.

Government sources said Meta’s commitment is “a first step towards making the platforms safe for children and much more needs to be done.”

The government is also engaging with other social media companies on measures to identify and remove harmful material proactively. Government sources said action would be taken against platforms that do not take adequate steps to protect children online.

The latest development follows scrutiny of Meta after allegations that paid advertisements on Instagram were used to promote or facilitate access to Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM). The allegations followed a BBC Eye investigation that prompted action from Indian authorities.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) took suo motu cognisance of the BBC Eye report and issued a notice to Meta Platforms on July 3, seeking an explanation over the allegations. Meta submitted its response about a week later, after which the commission initiated a formal inquiry.

The NCPCR subsequently summoned Meta India’s managing director and country head to appear before it on September 9. Senior Meta India executives appeared before the commission that day in connection with the inquiry into alleged CSEAM-related advertisements on Instagram.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also sought point-wise action-taken reports from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Delhi Police over allegations that paid Instagram advertisements facilitated access to child sexual abuse material. 

The NHRC proceedings also raised questions around compliance with reporting obligations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.