India
oi-Gaurav Sharma
Meta will report cases concerning child sexual abuse and other related serious child safety issues to the concerned authorities, as the Centre ramps up its efforts to make social media platforms safer for children in the country.
Government sources said that the online protection of children is a fundamental requirement for social media companies to operate in the country, and they would not compromise on the matter.
The Indian government mandates social media platforms, including Meta, to report child sexual abuse cases and improve content moderation, viewing online child safety as non-negotiable. This follows NCPCR and NHRC investigations into child exploitation material found on Meta’s platforms.
“Safety of children online is a fundamental principle for any social media platforms to operate in India and it is non-negotiable,” sources told news agency ANI.
The government described Meta’s decision to report such cases as an initial step towards strengthening safeguards for children using digital platforms, but said the platforms would have to do more to actively detect and remove such content.
The Centre is also consulting with other social media companies, seeking further action against content threatening the safety of children.
According to government sources, social media platforms are being pressed to identify and remove harmful content before further harm can be done. Authorities have also warned that companies could be taken to task for not being proactive in protecting children online.
The government’s position comes as Meta is under increased scrutiny for its platforms’ alleged role in child sexual exploitation and abuse material.
Meta faces child-rights scrutiny
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has begun proceedings against Meta following allegations concerning advertisements related to Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material.
Meta India representatives were presented before the child rights body on September 9 after the company’s senior India executives were summoned as part of the proceedings.
The NCPCR had taken suo motu cognisance of a BBC Eye report that alleged that advertisements related to child sexual exploitation and abuse could be found on Meta-owned platforms. The Commission issued a notice to Meta Platforms Inc. on July 3, requesting for an explanation, which Meta subsequently provided.
The proceedings have drawn renewed focus to the procedures used by social media companies to identify, prevent and report material involving the sexual exploitation of children.
NHRC also seeks investigation
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has separately taken up the allegations, directing the Delhi Police to investigate thoroughly.
The commission has asked police to assess allegations that paid advertisements on Instagram were promoting child sexual abuse material in India. The investigation will also look into whether Meta and other entities complied with mandatory reporting obligations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The issue has thus far extended beyond content moderation to include legal reporting requirements, and questions of the responsibility of technology companies when illegal material is found.
Meta’s agreement to report child-safety cases to law enforcement is being seen by the Centre as a beginning, but as the government continues to discuss with other platforms, it has indicated that social media companies will have to strengthen their systems for detecting, removing and reporting harmful content involving children.
