Google agrees to report CSAM cases directly to Indian cybercrime authorities

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Sep 22, 2026: Google has agreed to report cases involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM) directly to Indian authorities, the company said on Monday.

A Google spokesperson said the company is committed to combating CSAM online and preventing its platforms from being used to create, store or distribute such material.

“Google is deeply committed to fighting CSAM online and preventing its platforms from being used to create, store or distribute such material,” the spokesperson said. The company added that it invests significantly in detecting, preventing, removing and reporting such content.

As part of its ongoing discussions with the Government of India, Google has proposed operationalising the sharing of relevant information with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) in cases involving CSAM, the spokesperson said.

The development comes a week after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced a similar move. Meta has established a direct reporting mechanism with the cybercrime portal operated by the I4C.

Until now, US-based technology platforms such as Google and Meta have primarily routed CSAM reports through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the United States.

Indian officials have in recent weeks urged technology companies to report CSAM cases involving India directly to domestic authorities. Government sources said officials had raised concerns that routing reports through NCMEC could cause delays in cases where a child may be in immediate danger.

The government has described child safety online as a “non-negotiable” principle for digital platforms operating in India.

India is the largest user market for both YouTube and Meta’s platforms. Meta’s decision came amid increased friction with the Central government, including an apology by CEO Mark Zuckerberg last month over the spread of CSAM on its services.