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Tezzbuzz Desk- The Government of India has lodged a strong objection with Meta regarding the dissemination of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Instagram. Action has also been taken after talks on this issue between the government and Meta. The government has clarified that dissemination of material to sexual exploitation of children on social media platforms is a serious violation of Indian laws and applicable regulations. In such cases, the platform cannot benefit from any legal protection or 'safe harbour'.

According to the report of news agency PTI, the government clarified its position regarding CSAM content during the conversation with Meta. Officials told the company that it is extremely important to stop such content from being broadcast on the platform. The government's stance is that social media companies should take effective steps to monitor the content on their platforms and prevent possible harm arising from it.

The government also clarified that it is not trying to censor general activities, news coverage or freedom of expression on social media platforms. Quoting sources associated with the Ministry of Information Technology, the report said that the government's aim is only to ensure that digital platforms comply with the laws and regulations of India. The government also gave a message to Meta that any kind of negligence cannot be accepted in matters to the safety of children.

According to the report, the government also warned Meta that if the platform does not comply with the responsibilities set out under Indian laws, the legal protection it gets could be questioned. The 'safe harbor' provision generally protects social media platforms from being held directly liable for content posted by users in certain circumstances. However, this protection is subject to compliance with laws and prescribed conditions.

The government says that platforms cannot escape their responsibility in case of serious and objectionable content like CSAM. According to officials, social media companies will have to ensure that their platforms are not used to share or spread material to child exploitation. For this, it is necessary to maintain effective systems to identification, reporting and removal of content.

During the talks between the government and Meta, the company also put forward its side. Meta explained to officials how its algorithms, content moderation system and other technical processes work. The company tried to explain what kind of systems are used to identify and moderate content on the platform.

According to government sources, discussions are currently going on on this entire issue. The government is trying to understand how the technical systems in place on social media platforms can be improved to effectively prevent the spread of content to sexual exploitation of children. Along with this, changes in systems and processes are also being considered where necessary.

Officials believe that with the increasing use of social media, the responsibility for online security has also increased. The role of the platform becomes important especially in sensitive matters to children. The government has indicated that companies should develop proactive and effective mechanisms to identify and prevent such content instead of taking action only after receiving complaints.

There is a possibility of further talks between the government and Meta in this matter. At present, the main focus of the government is to ensure compliance with Indian laws and prevent the spread of objectionable content to children. The government has made it clear that in serious cases like CSAM, accountability of the platforms will be fixed and the protections available in case of violation of legal provisions may also be reconsidered.