Non-negotiable: Meta agrees to report child abuse cases as Centre steps up pressure

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Sep 16, 2026: Meta has agreed to report cases involving child sexual abuse to the appropriate law enforcement agencies in India, government sources said on Tuesday, as the Centre stepped up pressure on social media platforms to strengthen safeguards for children online.

Government sources said the online safety of children is a “fundamental principle” for every social media platform operating in India and is “non-negotiable.”

The government has also made it clear that platforms that fail to take proactive measures to protect children from harmful online content and activities could face action.

According to the sources, Meta’s decision to report child sexual abuse cases to law enforcement agencies is being viewed as a first step towards making online platforms safer for children. However, the government stressed that much more needs to be done.

The Centre is also engaging with other online platforms and urging them to proactively identify and remove harmful and illegal content, particularly material involving child sexual abuse and deepfakes.

The government has increased its scrutiny of social media companies over the handling of such content. It had earlier issued a notice to Meta over its response to harmful online material and recently summoned the company’s global executives to India.

The Centre has been pressing platforms to ensure faster removal of harmful content, strengthen safeguards for minors and improve accountability, while warning that failure to comply with Indian laws will not be tolerated.