Indian Government Sends Notices to Social Media Platforms to Combat Child Sexual Abuse Material

The Indian government has taken a strong stance against the presence of child sexual abuse material on social media platforms. In a move to protect children and ensure a safe online environment, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) has sent notices to social media giants X (formerly known as Twitter), YouTube, and Telegram. The government has emphasized the urgent need for these platforms to promptly and permanently remove any such content.

Failure to comply with the government’s request could result in the withdrawal of legal liability protection under section 79 of the IT Act. Junior Minister for Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, stated that consequences under Indian law would follow if the companies do not act swiftly. Chandrasekhar has been a vocal advocate for removing child sexual abuse material from the internet, and the government is determined to build a safe and trusted internet under the IT rules.

Telegram, in response to the notice, highlighted that child abuse materials are explicitly forbidden by its terms of service. The platform’s moderators actively patrol public areas and promptly remove content that breaches their terms. YouTube, owned by Google, also expressed a zero-tolerance policy towards child sexual abuse material, stating that no form of content endangering minors is acceptable to them. In the third quarter of 2023 alone, YouTube removed over 94,000 channels and more than 2.5 million videos for violations of its child safety policies.

The government has also requested that the companies implement measures such as content moderation algorithms and reporting mechanisms to prevent the dissemination of child sexual abuse material in the future. This proactive approach aims to create a safer online space for children and combat the spread of harmful content.

It is worth noting that in July, India informed online streamers like Netflix and Disney that their content should undergo independent reviews for obscenity and violence before being shown online. This move further demonstrates the government’s commitment to ensuring responsible and safe digital content.

The Indian government’s actions reflect a growing global concern for child protection in the digital age. By holding social media platforms accountable for removing child sexual abuse material, India is taking a significant step towards building a safer and more secure online environment for its citizens, particularly its young ones.