Meta says child safety remains a top priority after agreeing to report child safety-related matters to India's I4C portal.

Meta has announced that it will begin reporting matters involving child safety directly to the cybercrime portal operated by India’s Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C). The move is aimed at improving coordination with authorities and strengthening efforts to address online exploitation and other crimes targeting children.

A Meta spokesperson said the safety of children on its platforms remains a key priority for the company. Meta also said it is committed to cooperating with government agencies and helping ensure that individuals involved in such offences are held accountable. The company said the decision to report child safety-related cases directly through the I4C portal is intended to support a more coordinated response to online harms involving children. Meta operates several widely used platforms in India, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, and has systems in place to identify and restrict content that poses risks to children.

The I4C, which functions under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, plays a central role in India's efforts to combat cybercrime. It works with law enforcement agencies and uses technology, training and coordinated mechanisms to improve the country's response to online offences. The latest development comes amid increased scrutiny of social media companies over their responsibilities in protecting children online. Government sources have stressed that child safety must be treated as an essential requirement by digital platforms operating in India, describing it as a non-negotiable issue.

The development also follows recent action by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). On September 9, representatives of Meta India appeared before the child rights body after its senior leadership was summoned over allegations involving advertisements linked to Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM).

The NCPCR had initiated the matter on its own after a BBC Eye report raised allegations concerning advertisements appearing on Meta-owned platforms. On July 3, 2026, the Commission issued a notice to Meta Platforms, Inc., seeking an explanation regarding the reported content. Meta subsequently submitted its response to the Commission.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had also asked the Delhi Police to carry out a detailed investigation into allegations that paid advertisements on Instagram were being used to promote Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) in India. The NHRC further asked authorities to determine whether Meta and other entities involved had fulfilled their legal reporting responsibilities under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Meta's decision to directly report child safety concerns through the I4C portal is therefore being viewed in the broader context of growing government and regulatory efforts to make online platforms more accountable for preventing and reporting serious crimes involving children.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.