âNo safe harbour if law violatedâ: Governmentâs message to Meta on content moderation

TOI News Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Aug 18, 2026, 12:21 IST

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Discussions with Meta have focused heavily on the company's handling of CSAM and other harmful online content (representative image)

NEW DELHI: The government has made it clear to Meta that safe-harbour protection will not be available if the company violates Indian law, with sources saying the message has been conveyed during recent discussions between the two sides over content moderation and child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Govt seeks stronger local sensitivity in content moderation

The discussions have also focused on Meta's content moderation systems, with the government stressing the need for greater sensitivity to India's linguistic and cultural diversity.

WhatsApp usernames, platform regulation also under scrutiny

The government is separately examining the issue of WhatsApp usernames from an industry-wide perspective, rather than treating it as an issue specific to Meta.

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