Meta Admits To Mistake Over Child Sexual Abuse Ads On Instagram: Report
The Indian government has asserted that Meta is no longer a simple intermediary but a service provider responsible for content visibility on its platforms. This follows Meta's admission of errors regarding child sexual abuse material appearing in advertisements on Instagram.
Why it matters
The shift in legal classification could set a major precedent for how social media giants are held liable for algorithmic content curation and safety failures in India.
Meta can no longer be considered a "simple intermediary" but is a "service provider" when its algorithms amplify and decide on the content visibility, government sources said on Wednesday, asserting that just as service providers have many responsibilities, the social media company must take more onus going forward.Sources said the government believes Meta - the owner of Facebook and Instagram - does not have legal immunity in this situation, although the interpretation of law and the final determination rest with the judiciary.To a specific question on whether Meta loses its legal immunity in such a case, the sources maintained that it is up to the court to decide.Ultimately, the interpretation of law is the domain of the judiciary, they pointed out."But we believe they do not have the immunity," government sources said.Emphasising that every service provider has certain responsibilities, sources said that Meta's move now to take responsibility for content…
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