In a significant policy shift, Google has announced that it will begin reporting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) directly to Indian law enforcement. Previously, the company followed a global standard where such reports were first funneled through the U.S.-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This change, which follows a similar move by Meta, comes after intense pressure from the Indian government, which argued that the existing intermediary system created dangerous delays in protecting children who are in immediate peril.

For years, tech giants utilized the U.S. nonprofit as a central clearinghouse to handle international reports, but Indian officials contended that this added layer hindered the ability of domestic police to act quickly on the ground. As India represents one of the largest user bases for both Google and Meta, the companies have been under increasing scrutiny to streamline their safety protocols. By bypassing the traditional route, Google aims to improve response times and address the growing global challenge of child exploitation more effectively within the Indian jurisdiction.