YouTube, Telegram respond to IT Ministry’s notice on child sexual abuse material

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New Delhi. Google-owned YouTube and encrypted messaging platform Telegram on Saturday responded to the IT Ministry’s notice to remove any form of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) or face strict action, saying their stand on CSAM and related content is There is a zero-tolerance policy.

A YouTube spokesperson told IANS that any content that puts minors at risk is not acceptable to them.

“We have invested heavily in technology and teams to fight child sexual abuse and online exploitation and have taken steps to address it as quickly as possible,” the spokesperson said.

“In Q2 2023, we removed more than 94,000 channels and more than 2.5 million videos for violations of our child safety policies,” a YouTube spokesperson said. We will continue to work with experts inside and outside YouTube to provide the best protection possible for minors and families.”

According to the Google-owned platform, it has a strong record of successfully fighting child sexual exploitation.

YouTube is working with the industry by offering expertise and technology to smaller partners and NGOs.

YouTube restricts live features, disables comments, and limits recommendations for videos featuring minors in potentially risky situations or videos categorized as “made for kids.”

Encrypted messaging platform Telegram said it is always committed to maintaining legal and ethical standards on its platform, especially in addressing issues related to child pornography, child sexual abuse material and rape and gang rape material on the Indian internet. in this matter.

In a statement, Telegram said that in response to reports of CP/CSAM/RGR content it maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any illegal activities conducted by users on our platform.

“We respond to any such violations with immediate and strict action as prescribed by the law of the country,” a company spokesperson said. When CP/CSAM/RGR content is reported, we initiate prompt action to remove the objectionable material. Our average response time for removal is 10-12 hours, which is within the permissible time limit of 24 hours set by the above rules.”

Telegram said that they also have a special team, which is working towards removing all the illegal content falling under the child abuse category.

“In compliance with Section 79 of the IT Act, Telegram is in compliance with Section 79 of the Information Technology Act (IT Act) and by the State/UT Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) for immediate removal of CP/CSAM/RGR content,” the company said. Is committed to comply with any related notices issued.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT had on Friday sent notices to social media intermediaries, stressing on the importance of immediately and permanently removing or disabling access to any CSAM on their platforms.

Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrashekhar said, “The rules under the IT Act place strict expectations on social media intermediaries that they should not allow criminal or harmful posts on their platforms. If they do not act swiftly, their safe harbor under Section 79 of the IT Act will be withdrawn and they will face consequences under Indian law.

The ministry warned the three social media intermediaries that any delay in complying with the notice would lead to withdrawal of their safe harbor protection under Section 79 of the IT Act, which currently shields them from legal liability.

X Corp (formerly Twitter) had not yet responded to the Indian government’s notice.

(IANS)

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