Meta Strengthens Systems to Block Re‑Uploaded Child Abuse Content in India

New Delhi, September 15 – The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has pressed Meta to take stronger action against the re‑posting of illicit child‑related material. The company has accepted to relay such incidents to the police and other enforcement agencies.

The agreement marks a milestone for online child protection in India, yet officials warn that further steps are necessary. Ongoing dialogues with other platform providers aim to create a unified framework for rapid identification and removal of prohibited content.

According to a report released on August 18, the focus of the talks was on how to curb the resurgence of content that reappears after being deleted. The government stresses that a mere takedown is inadequate; preventing subsequent distribution is equally critical.

Meta’s response includes the deployment of advanced AI‑driven scanners and hash‑based matching to detect previously removed files, even when they are altered or uploaded under different accounts.

The centre has also clarified that platforms neglecting these obligations may lose the “safe harbour” protection, exposing them to greater legal liability. The policy intent, officials affirm, is to protect children while avoiding undue censorship of legitimate speech.