New Delhi – The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a formal directive to Meta Platforms Inc., demanding the immediate removal of child sexual abuse content from its Instagram service, the Bloomberg news agency reported. The notice, sent on July 2, cites the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, which obligate online intermediaries to take down illegal content within 24 hours of a complaint and to maintain a robust grievance redressal system.
Meta’s corporate communications team confirmed receipt of the request and said the company is “working closely with Indian authorities to address the issue.” The firm did not disclose the volume of material under review or a timeline for compliance.
India’s push comes amid a broader crackdown on online child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In 2022, the government launched the “Cyber Crime Prevention Against Women and Children” portal, which allows users to report illicit content directly to law‑enforcement agencies. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, reported cases of child sexual abuse online rose by 28 percent between 2020 and 2023, prompting officials to intensify scrutiny of social‑media platforms.
The notice warns that failure to act could trigger penalties under the IT Act, including fines of up to ₹5 crore (approximately $600,000) per day for non‑compliance. Legal experts note that while the rules grant the government broad authority to demand content removal, they also require platforms to follow due‑process safeguards, such as notifying users and providing an opportunity to contest takedown orders.
Analysis: The directive reflects growing pressure on global tech firms to align with India’s stringent content‑moderation expectations. Meta’s swift acknowledgment suggests a desire to avoid regulatory penalties and preserve its market position in a country where Instagram boasts over 400 million users. However, critics argue that the lack of transparency around the volume of CSAM and the mechanisms for verification could lead to over‑broad removals, potentially infringing on legitimate expression. The episode also underscores the challenges of cross‑border enforcement, as Meta must balance compliance with Indian law against its own internal policies and the technical complexities of identifying illegal material at scale.
Sources
Bloomberg, “India Tells Meta to Remove Child Abuse Content from Instagram,” Google News India RSS feed, https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisgFBVV95cUxNOGxWNWVOWHd6YU9NeEY5RTNaZlJYR3FfN2xhU25uTkw0TG55ZW1TNDl3bUZSSDJTdVp4aENBYjAyY1l0R3l1TEo3MW5menhkOVJVcE52YW1VSXU4M2swRUFNcko2QkFhMnVMNHh4T0V6TWxiZWJkNW9NOFFCNHZjdlRBNXhwLWJXQ3JSYzRlMVFPcjhsYU5jNE5vZjU1bXNxcUVoYXI4dEdjWlNUaXZiUjN3.
Story synopsis gathered from: Google News India — source
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