Meta Removed 5.3 Million Pieces of Child Abuse Material in India

Social media company Meta has reported the removal of 5.3 million pieces of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in India during the first half of 2026. According to the company, more than 98% of this content was identified and actioned before users reported it.

Meta has faced scrutiny over its policies for taking down child abuse content. The company stated that globally, it removed 33.2 million such pieces of content during the same period, with a proactive detection rate exceeding 97 percent.

The company has deployed new AI-powered systems and upgraded ad review frameworks across Facebook and Instagram in India to detect and remove CSAM. Meta has also introduced LLM-driven systems to identify "signposting" within ads, aimed at countering predators who advertise illicit material in ways that evade automated detection. These systems evaluate where an advertisement leads, rather than solely analyzing its visible content.

Furthermore, Meta has implemented AI-driven sweeps to uncover missed CSAM material and integrated "red-teaming" AI agents to probe its own defenses and strengthen detection mechanisms. These measures follow recent engagement with India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) regarding alleged circulation of CSAM on its platforms. Meta has agreed to report child safety matters directly to Indian authorities.