Google has proposed directly sharing cases involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM) with India’s Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), breaking from the reporting route traditionally followed by major US technology companies, where such reports are first sent to the US-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
The move, announced on September 21, follows Meta’s similar decision earlier this month and comes after Indian officials pressed technology companies, including Google and Microsoft, to provide information directly to domestic authorities, citing concerns over delays in urgent cases involving children.
Google said it invests significantly in detecting, removing and reporting CSAM and that its proposal is part of ongoing discussions with the Indian government. The company’s direct-reporting mechanism is still being worked out, with the technical framework required for sharing information with I4C yet to be operationalised.
Google Changes Its Reporting Route
Under the existing system, Google detects and removes suspected CSAM from its platforms and reports cases through NCMEC’s CyberTipline, which then makes relevant information available to law-enforcement agencies as appropriate.
NCMEC’s 2025 data shows the scale of the system: it received 21.3 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation, involving 61.8 million images, videos and other files. More than 53,000 reports were identified and escalated as urgent or involving a child in imminent danger.
NCMEC also recorded more than 1.4 million online-enticing reports, a 158% rise from 2024, while more than 182,000 reports were linked to generative-AI-related CSAM. Google’s proposed arrangement would add a direct Indian reporting channel alongside the existing international process.
A Google spokesperson said, “We invest significantly to detect, deter, remove, and report child sexual abuse material,” adding that the company had proposed operationalising the provision of relevant information to I4C as part of its discussions with the Centre.
Reports indicate Google India has been engaging with Indian authorities on the technical framework needed for the proposed information-sharing mechanism.
Why India Wants Faster Action
The push for direct reporting follows heightened government scrutiny of online child safety. Two Indian government sources told Reuters that officials had recently pressed technology companies such as Google and Microsoft to report cases concerning India directly to domestic authorities, arguing that routing reports through an overseas organisation could delay information reaching investigators.
The concern is particularly significant where authorities believe a child could be at immediate risk. The development follows Meta’s September 15 decision to report child-safety matters directly to I4C’s cybercrime portal. Meta said protecting children on its platforms was a priority and that it was committed to working with the government to ensure perpetrators were held responsible.
The government’s pressure on platforms intensified after a BBC Eye investigation reported that advertisements on Instagram used terms associated with child sexual abuse and directed users towards Telegram channels allegedly selling abusive material.
The Centre subsequently sought explanations and action from Meta. A senior MeitY official told Hindustan Times that online child safety was a “non-negotiable” principle for social-media platforms operating in India.
India already has the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, which provides a dedicated mechanism for reporting cybercrime involving women and children, including sexually explicit material involving minors.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The move highlights a crucial question about how technology platforms, governments and law-enforcement agencies can respond when online abuse involves children: how can reporting be made fast enough to protect a child while still ensuring lawful, accountable and secure handling of sensitive information?
Faster access to information can potentially help investigators respond more quickly, but effective child protection also depends on clear procedures, adequate investigative capacity, privacy safeguards and responsible handling of highly sensitive evidence.
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