Meta Faces Scrutiny in India Over Alleged CSAM Ads as Government Questions Safe Harbour Protection
New Delhi: Meta is facing increased scrutiny from Indian authorities over allegations that advertisements linked to Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) appeared on its platforms. The development follows media reports and ongoing inquiries by multiple government bodies into the company’s content moderation practices. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
According to sources, Meta acknowledged shortcomings in its systems during discussions with Indian authorities and said illegal content had been promoted to specific audiences. The company is expected to hold further discussions with officials as the investigations continue.
Meta Delegation Meets Government Officials
A senior Meta delegation, led by Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan, met Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary S. Krishnan on Wednesday.
During the meeting, Meta officials reportedly explained the circumstances surrounding the temporary removal of a video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which the company has previously attributed to a technical error.
Meta restored the video after identifying the issue.
Reports of Apology from Mark Zuckerberg
According to government sources, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg conveyed regret over issues relating to:
- Alleged Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
- Deepfake content.
- Operational errors on the platform.
The sources also said government officials informed Meta that if a platform actively determines how content is distributed, its eligibility for legal protections available to intermediaries under India’s Information Technology Act could come under examination. No official legal determination on this issue has been announced.
NCPCR Orders Inquiry
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has initiated an inquiry after taking suo motu cognisance of media reports alleging that advertisements on Instagram promoted content related to child sexual exploitation.
The Commission had issued a notice to Meta on 3 July, seeking an explanation. Meta later submitted its response.
The inquiry aims to determine the facts surrounding the allegations.
NHRC Seeks Police Investigation
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Delhi Police to conduct a detailed investigation into the allegations.
The Commission has sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) examining:
- Whether advertisements promoted illegal content.
- Compliance with reporting obligations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
- The role of Meta and other entities in handling the reported content.
The NHRC has also asked Delhi Police to submit updates on the progress of the investigation.
Parliamentary Panel Raises Concerns
The issue was also discussed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
Dubey said the committee had expressed concern over the temporary removal of Prime Minister Modi’s Facebook video and argued that Meta should issue an apology.
He also raised concerns regarding the platform’s content moderation practices and the availability of illegal content online.
Meta’s Earlier Response
Meta has previously stated that the Prime Minister’s video was removed because of a technical error.
In a statement issued on 28 July, a company spokesperson said:
“The content was removed in error and has since been restored.”
The video related to the government’s proposed measures against examination paper leaks and was restored after the issue was identified.
Investigations Continue
The inquiries by the NCPCR, NHRC and other authorities remain ongoing.
The outcome of these investigations will determine whether any further regulatory or legal action is taken against Meta regarding the allegations and its compliance with Indian law.
(With inputs from ANI)
Suggested Graphics
Graphic 1: Timeline of Events
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| 3 July | NCPCR issues notice to Meta |
| 8 July | NHRC seeks Delhi Police investigation |
| 28 July | Meta says PM’s video removed due to technical error |
| 5 August | Meta delegation meets MeitY officials |
Graphic 2: Agencies Involved
- 🏛️ Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY)
- 👶 National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
- ⚖️ National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
- 🚔 Delhi Police
- 🏢 Meta Platforms
