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NHRC Flags Child Safety Violations Against Meta (Img: X)
New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken action against social media giant Meta and police chiefs of eight states over alleged violations related to harmful and age-inappropriate content on Instagram and Facebook that may involve Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
The rights body has asked authorities to investigate the allegations and take necessary legal action if violations are found.
The NHRC issued notices to Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, after concerns were raised over the availability of content allegedly involving minors.
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo said that if paid content containing CSAM is found to be available on Instagram, it could amount to a criminal offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
He said such allegations require a detailed criminal investigation and that an FIR against Meta could be considered if the content is found to violate Indian laws.
The commission has reportedly provided 50 URLs to authorities for examination. The NHRC has directed police officials in eight states to investigate the alleged violations and take appropriate action.
Kanoongo warned that if authorities fail to act despite receiving specific links and information, the commission may approach the central government and seek action against officials responsible for ignoring the matter.
The NHRC action comes amid increasing concerns over how social media platforms detect and remove harmful content involving children.
Questions have been raised over the responsibility of technology companies to prevent the spread and monetisation of illegal material and ensure stronger safety measures. Meta has repeatedly stated that it follows a zero-tolerance policy towards child sexual exploitation and removes such content when detected.
The controversy gained attention after reports alleged that Instagram advertisements in India were linked to content involving child exploitation.
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Some investigations claimed that certain advertisements directed users towards external platforms where illegal material was allegedly being circulated. Further reports also raised concerns about AI-generated harmful content involving minors appearing across Meta platforms.
The latest NHRC move comes at a time when Indian authorities have increased scrutiny of major social media companies over content moderation, deepfakes and online safety.
Meta executives have faced questions from Indian officials over platform accountability, with the company assuring authorities that it is strengthening artificial intelligence-based systems to identify and block harmful content.
