Meta to Report Child Abuse Material Directly to India

Meta Inc. has agreed to report child sexual abuse material and child safety matters directly to the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre via the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. This represents a significant policy shift for the company, which previously routed such reports exclusively through the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The decision follows intense scrutiny from the Government of India after the Tech Transparency Project found over 300 advertisements featuring AI-generated child sexual abuse material on Facebook and Instagram. In response, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights launched a formal inquiry on July 3, 2026, and summoned Meta India representatives on September 9. After the company's managing director failed to attend that session, the commission ordered a future appearance.

Indian officials have warned that child online safety is a non-negotiable principle for platforms operating in the country. The government informed Meta that it may be reclassified from a mere intermediary to a service provider, a move that would strip the company of safe-harbour protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act and make it legally responsible for hosted content. While Meta admitted to a mistake, the government continues to engage other social media platforms to ensure the proactive removal of harmful content.