Meta more cautious on CSAM after unequivocal govt message; action visible: IT Ministry sources
Sources said the government's intent is not censorship or restricting coverage in any way, but ensuring Indian laws and norms are followed and that social media harms are mitigated. Meta explained how its algorithms and systems work, the ministry sources said, noting that discussions are on and such matters involve "judgment calls" and "tweaks".
Following a decisive message from Indian authorities, technology giant Meta has demonstrated increased caution and sensitivity towards child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on its platforms, according to sources from the Ministry of Information and Technology (IT Ministry). The government has unequivocally communicated that CSAM is a clear violation of Indian law and cannot be protected under safe-harbour provisions.
Sources assert that the government's intent is not to censor content or restrict online freedom, but to ensure compliance with Indian laws and norms, while mitigating potential social media harms.
The IT Ministry sources revealed that Meta has shown a willingness to cooperate after discussions with company representatives, which included an explanation of how its algorithms and systems function. The government is satisfied with some progress made by Meta, with no recurrence of CSAM content on its platforms. The ministry emphasized that safe-harbour removal is not a direct action of the government, but rather enforced through the courts if a violation of Section 67 of the Information Technology Act is proven.
While addressing algorithmic bias concerns, the IT Ministry official stated that discussions are ongoing regarding Meta's algorithms. The company has been transparent about its operations and is actively seeking ways to improve its content moderation practices. The WhatsApp username row, which has raised concerns over potential online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation, is currently under examination by the government.
Meta has assured the government that it will not launch the feature in India until satisfactory consultations are completed.
The government has also directed Meta to prevent previously removed CSAM content from resurfacing through improved filters. Meta has acknowledged the need to balance the benefits of platforms with the associated risks, such as addiction, gaming-related harms, and CSAM. The IT Ministry sources clarified that the government's actions are within India's constitutional and statutory framework, including the use of Section 69 A of the IT Act when prescribed conditions are met.
The government's objective is to uphold Indian laws while ensuring platforms do not create adverse situations that conflict with the country's social norms.
Written by urgent.news from Economic Times Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
