US-based technology company Meta is intensifying efforts to curb the spread and reappearance of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) across its platforms in India amid ongoing discussions with the government, according to a report.

NDTV Profit reported that Meta and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) have discussed the company’s approach to illegal content and the broader responsibility of digital platforms to prevent harmful material from resurfacing after authorities or platforms remove it.

Meta is taking steps to address the circulation of such content and remains particularly cautious because CSAM clearly violates Indian law, the report said.

The company is also working to prevent previously flagged material from reappearing on its platforms. This effort highlights the growing focus on ensuring that platforms do not simply remove illegal content but also prevent its repeated circulation.

According to sources cited in the report, the government has reiterated that platforms may lose safe harbour protection if they fail to meet applicable legal requirements. However, officials are not seeking to censor social media platforms. Instead, they want platforms to comply with Indian laws and fulfil their legal responsibilities.

“Platforms need to strike the right balance between social good and harms,” the report said.

The discussions also cover broader concerns linked to social media services, including platform addiction and the circulation of exploitative content.

Government officials have further stressed the importance of considering India’s cultural context while platforms formulate and enforce content moderation policies, according to the sources.

Meanwhile, the ministry is exercising its statutory powers sparingly and continues to focus on ensuring that platforms meet their legal obligations.

Although intermediaries can potentially lose safe harbour protection for hosting prohibited content, courts ultimately determine whether such protection applies in individual cases based on the platform’s compliance with prescribed legal conditions.

The discussions come as regulators worldwide increase scrutiny of online platforms over content moderation, user safety and compliance with local laws.