Indian Government Takes Action Against Social Media Platforms to Combat Child Sexual Abuse Material

The Indian government has recently sent notices to social media platforms Twitter (X), YouTube, and Telegram, urging them to ensure the absence of any child sexual abuse material on their platforms. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) emphasized the importance of promptly and permanently removing such content in the notices. Failure to comply could result in the companies losing their protection from legal liability, according to a statement by the government.

Rajeev Chandrashekhar, the junior minister for information technology, expressed the government’s determination to create a safe and trusted internet under the IT rules. Chandrashekhar has been a vocal advocate for removing child abuse content from the internet in India. The government warned that if the platforms do not act swiftly, their safe harbor under section 79 of the IT Act would be withdrawn, and they would face consequences under Indian law.

Telegram, one of the platforms mentioned, stated that child abuse materials are explicitly forbidden by its terms of service. The company’s moderators actively patrol public areas of the platform and rely on user reports to remove content that violates their terms.

Representatives for Twitter (X) and Google, the owner of YouTube, have not yet responded to requests for comment.

In addition to addressing existing content, the government also urged the companies to implement measures such as content moderation algorithms and reporting mechanisms to prevent the dissemination of child sexual abuse material in the future.

This move by the Indian government follows a previous report in July, where online streamers like Netflix and Disney were informed that their content should be independently reviewed for obscenity and violence before being shown online.

The government’s focus on combating child sexual abuse material highlights its commitment to building a safe and trusted internet environment. By holding social media platforms accountable, India aims to protect its citizens, particularly children, from online exploitation.

Please note: The information in this article is based on a press release and has not been independently verified.