MEITY issues notice to social media intermediaries to remove Child Sexual Abuse Material from their platforms

Ministry of Electronics and IT has issued notices to social media intermediaries X, Youtube, and Telegram to remove Child Sexual Abuse Material, CSAM from their platforms in India.

The notices served to these platforms emphasize the importance of prompt and permanent removal or disabling of access to any CSAM on their platforms. They also call for the implementation of proactive measures, such as content moderation algorithms and reporting mechanisms, to prevent the dissemination of CSAM in the future.

The Ministry has warned the three social media



intermediaries that any delay in complying with the notices will result in the withdrawal of their safe harbor protection under Section 79 of the IT Act, which currently shields them from legal liability.

Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar reiterated that the Government is determined to build a safe and trusted internet under the IT rules. He said the IT rules under the IT Act lays down strict expectations from social media intermediaries that they should not allow criminal or harmful posts on their platforms.