Meta Took Down 5.3 Mn Pieces Of Child Abuse Content In H1 2026

Meta, the social media behemoth, has removed an astounding 5.3 million pieces of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) during the first half of 2026, according to its latest report. This proactive action comes amidst mounting pressure from regulatory bodies to enhance its safety measures. Over 98% of the removed content was identified and dealt with before it was even reported. Globally, Meta took down a staggering 33.2 million such pieces of content, exceeding a 97% detection rate.

Meta has bolstered its defenses with advanced AI-powered systems and upgraded its ad review frameworks on platforms Facebook and Instagram. The new "signpost" safeguards evaluate the destination of an advertisement, rather than just its visible content, to identify potential threats. Additionally, Meta has deployed AI-driven sweeps to uncover any missed CSAM material and integrated "red-teaming" AI agents to probe its own defenses against malicious actors.

The company's efforts follow recent criticism from the Indian IT ministry, which accused Meta of circulating and promoting CSAM. An earlier BBC investigation also alleged that Instagram ads were directing users towards Telegram channels selling CSAM. In response, Meta agreed to report child safety matters directly to Indian authorities. The social media giant may also face legal liability under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, should it lose its "safe harbour" protection.