Google to report child abuse content directly to Indian authorities

Google has agreed to report content flagged as child sexual abuse material directly to Indian authorities. This decision marks a departure from the global practice of routing such reports through the U.S.-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), which typically relays information to local law enforcement.

The shift follows recent pressure from the Indian government on major technology firms, including Google and Microsoft, to expedite reporting. Officials expressed concerns that the existing intermediary system caused critical delays that hindered domestic police from intervening in time to protect children in active danger.

This move follows a similar announcement by Meta last week. India represents the largest user market for both Meta’s Facebook and Google’s YouTube. A Google spokesperson stated that the company invests significantly in detecting and removing such material and noted that the decision is part of ongoing discussions with the Indian government.