Meta faces scrutiny over child safety content in India (Img: Dynamite News)
New Delhi: Meta has admitted to a mistake in its handling of material related to child sexual abuse and will immediately inform Indian authorities about such content, government sources said. The company will also be required to remove content involving the sexual abuse of children, along with material that could lead people to suicide.
The government has told Meta that it can no longer be treated solely as an intermediary and may instead be considered a service provider, requiring it to take greater responsibility for the content and services it offers. The shift could have far-reaching consequences for the company, sources said.
The development comes after Meta said it will report child-safety matters directly to India's National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, amid increased government scrutiny over allegations that paid advertisements linked to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) appeared on Instagram.
Until now, Meta has primarily routed child-safety reports through the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Under the new arrangement, the company will establish a direct reporting channel with India's National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, which is managed by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The government believes Meta may no longer be entitled to legal immunity in the matter, although the question of whether such immunity applies will ultimately have to be decided by a court, sources said.
The Centre described Meta's decision as a first step and stressed that "much more" needs to be done. "Online safety of children is a fundamental principle for any social media platform to operate in India and it is non-negotiable," officials said.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) issued its first notice to Meta on July 3, 2026, seeking an explanation over advertisements allegedly linked to child sexual abuse material (CSEAM). Meta submitted its response a week later.
The Commission subsequently decided to launch a formal inquiry to establish the facts and summoned Meta's India managing director and head to appear before it.
The Meta India head did not attend the September 9 hearing, with the company instead represented by senior executives. Meta officials cited urgent reasons for the senior executive's absence.
Following the hearing, the NCPCR directed that Meta's India head appear before the Commission at its next hearing, keeping the company's handling of child-safety concerns under continued scrutiny.
