The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued a fresh summons to the Managing Director and Head of Meta India in connection with an ongoing investigation into advertisements related to Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSEAM), while the commission has scheduled the hearing for today, September 16, requiring the personal appearance of the top executive to address the serious allegations regarding the presence of such sensitive content on Meta platforms.
Requirement for Personal Appearance
The decision to summon the Managing Director and Head of Meta India personally comes after a previous hearing held on September 9. During that session, senior officials from Meta represented the company; however, the commission has now insisted on the presence of the India head. Although Meta officials provided reasons for the absence of the Managing Director and Head during the September 9 hearing, the NCPCR remained firm in its requirement for the top leadership to be present for the subsequent proceedings scheduled for September 16.
Background of the Meta Investigation
The roots of this case trace back to a notice issued by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights on July 3, 2026. This action was taken after the commission took suo motu cognisance of a media report by BBC Eye. The report alleged the existence of advertisements related to Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSEAM) on Meta platforms. Following the notice, NCPCR sought a detailed explanation from Meta. While Meta submitted its response a week after the initial notice, the commission decided to initiate a formal inquiry to uncover the facts of the matter. The current summons to the Meta India Managing Director is a direct consequence of this formal investigation.
Policy Changes and Reporting Mechanisms
The persistent actions taken by the NCPCR regarding the CSEAM issue have led to significant changes in Meta's internal policies, while in response to the scrutiny, Meta has modified its policy concerning the reporting of child sexual abuse cases. As part of these changes, Meta has now started reporting such cases to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). This shift indicates a more structured approach to handling and reporting illegal content related to minors on its platforms in India.
Summons to Capgemini Vice President
In a separate but equally significant development, the NCPCR has also summoned the Vice President of Capgemini. This summons is related to a different case involving the alleged abuse of children at a day-care center operated by Capgemini in Bengaluru. The commission has directed the Vice President to appear for a hearing on September 16 at 4 PM. The NCPCR intends to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter to fix responsibility and ensure the protection of child rights within the facility.