Google to report child sexual abuse content directly to Indian authorities

Google has agreed to report child sexual abuse material (CSAM) directly to Indian authorities, marking a shift from its existing global reporting mechanism, which routes such cases through a US-based non-profit organisation.

The decision follows a similar commitment by Meta last week and comes amid growing pressure from the Indian government on technology platforms to accelerate the reporting of online child exploitation cases.

According to Reuters, Indian officials have urged companies including Google and Microsoft to establish direct reporting channels with domestic law enforcement agencies, citing delays under the existing international system.

A Google spokesperson said the company invests significantly in detecting, preventing, removing and reporting child sexual abuse material, describing the proposed changes as part of its ongoing discussions with the Indian government.

Google India has proposed sharing relevant information with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The company is expected to begin sharing information once the necessary technical framework is established.

Currently, Google and Meta report suspected child sexual exploitation to the US-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), which subsequently forwards relevant information to law enforcement agencies in the countries concerned.

Indian authorities have raised concerns that this additional reporting layer can delay police intervention, particularly in cases involving children facing immediate danger.

Meta, which operates Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, announced last week that it would begin reporting child safety-related cases directly to India's national cybercrime reporting portal.

The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of technology companies over the circulation of child sexual abuse material and their responsibility to detect and remove such content.

According to NCMEC, its CyberTipline received more than 21.3 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation globally in 2025.

For India, where YouTube and Facebook have their largest user bases globally, the move represents a significant change in how major digital platforms coordinate with domestic authorities on child safety. Direct reporting could enable faster intervention while placing greater responsibility on platforms to establish effective detection, reporting and cooperation mechanisms with Indian law enforcement agencies.