Google says it will report content flagged as child sexual abuse material directly to Indian authorities, a change from its previous global process that routed reports first through a US-based non-profit. The company describes the adjustment as part of ongoing discussions with the Government of India.
Several outlets describe the shift as a response to concerns raised by Indian authorities about delays under the existing system. Under the older approach, reports are sent to the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which then forwards them to law enforcement in the relevant country. Indian government sources cited by Reuters say officials have asked technology firms, including Google and Microsoft, to report directly to speed up action, particularly when a child may be in immediate danger.
The change aligns with a similar announcement by Meta reported earlier, following earlier friction between Meta and Indian officials. Outlets also note that Google and Meta serve large user bases in India, including Google’s YouTube and Meta’s Facebook. Reporting mechanisms and timing remain a key point of difference across countries, with many still relying on the US non-profit as an international clearing house.
