Meta agrees to report child abuse cases amid India social media crackdown

Meta has agreed to report cases of child sexual abuse and other child-safety concerns to Indian law enforcement agencies, government sources said Tuesday, as part of a wider crackdown on social media platforms over the protection of children online.

The decision by Facebook and Instagram’s parent company comes after years of pressure by Indian authorities over the spread of child sexual abuse material on digital platforms. Meta had previously been reporting such cases to the US-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, according to ThePrint.

“Online safety of children is a fundamental principle for any social media firm to operate in India and it’s non-negotiable,” government officials said.

Officials called Meta’s decision a first step but they also said more needs to be done to address harmful content involving children. The government has also said it has been talking to other online platforms and action could be taken against companies that fail to take proactive steps to protect children.

It comes after Meta faced scrutiny over claims Instagram was promoting or sharing child sexual exploitation material. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has questioned Meta India executives separately on the matter.