India's I4C Denies Holding Sahyog Portal Records, Cites Facilitation Role
India's Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) stated it does not possess records related to the Sahyog Portal, including notices or actions taken. The center described its role as facilitation, with operational data held by state police authorities.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has informed that it does not hold records pertaining to the Sahyog Portal, such as details of notices issued, actions taken, investigation outcomes, or jurisdiction-specific statistics. In its response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by MediaNama, I4C stated that this data is "held and maintained by the respective State/UT Police authorities or the issuing agencies."
I4C clarified that its own role concerning the portal is limited to "facilitation" and that it does not control such detailed operational data. During legal proceedings, government submissions referred to the Sahyog Portal as a "mere facilitation portal" aimed at streamlining communication between law enforcement and intermediaries. The portal centralizes takedown requests under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act and currently lists at least 94 intermediaries.
MediaNama's original RTI application sought records concerning communications with social media intermediaries regarding the reporting and takedown of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). It also inquired whether intermediaries are required to report such material to Indian authorities in addition to the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
I4C cited several grounds for refusing to disclose information, including potential prejudice to investigations, risks to national sovereignty and security, and the protection of third-party personal information. The center also asserted that a sufficient public interest justifying disclosure had not been established.