'No safe harbour': Centre steps up pressure on Meta over CSAM content

The government's discussions with Meta have led to action and greater sensitivity around child sexual abuse material (CSAM), according to IT Ministry sources. The Centre has made it clear that such content violates Indian law and that platforms cannot claim safe harbour when legal provisions are breached.

Centre says focus is not censorship

Ministry sources said the government's objective is not to restrict coverage or impose censorship, but to ensure that social media platforms comply with Indian laws and norms while taking steps to limit online harms.

"The message has gone home," they said.

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Meta also explained how its algorithms and other systems function during the discussions. According to ministry sources, talks on the issue are continuing, with some decisions involving "judgment calls, and tweaks".

WhatsApp username issue under review

The government is also examining the ongoing issue around WhatsApp usernames. Sources said the matter cannot be viewed in isolation because similar questions could arise across multiple messaging platforms.

The ministry is therefore considering the wider implications rather than limiting the discussion to WhatsApp alone.

Social media harms a global concern

Officials stressed that concerns over the impact of social media are not limited to India. Countries including Australia, the UK and France are also grappling with similar issues.

Platforms, the sources said, have a responsibility to address social media harms while maintaining an appropriate balance.

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AI-generated content must be labelled

The Ministry also reiterated its position on AI-generated content. According to an official, the law requires synthetically generated content to carry appropriate labelling.

The responsibility does not rest with users alone, with platforms also expected to comply with the requirement. Sources said the framework places obligations at three levels, including on platforms.