98% Detected Before Reports: Inside Meta’s Fight Against Child Exploitation

Meta removed 5.3 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content from Facebook and Instagram in India between January and June 2026, with more than 98 per cent detected proactively, the company said.

Meta uses automated systems, artificial intelligence and human review to identify and remove content that violates its policies on child sexual exploitation. It has upgraded its tools to detect suspicious accounts, harmful links and networks associated with child exploitation.

In its July 2026 update, Meta said its technology had automatically removed more than four million suspicious accounts worldwide over the previous year.

During the same period, the company reported removing 36 million pieces of child exploitation content from Facebook and Instagram globally.

Meta said its systems can identify suspicious off-platform links and other indicators associated with potential child exploitation.

In India, these measures resulted in the removal of 160,000 accounts in the six months preceding its July update.

The company said it reports suspected child exploitation to law enforcement through the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. It said it follows applicable Indian legal requirements, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences framework.

Meta further highlighted its participation in Lantern, an industry initiative that enables platforms to share signals related to predatory accounts and behaviour.

According to the company, more than two million signals had been shared through Lantern by the end of 2025.

The figures underline the scale of Meta’s efforts to detect and remove child sexual exploitation content across its platforms, while combining automated detection with human review and cooperation with law enforcement.

Also Read: Airtel Postpaid Price Hike: What You Get In Return For Paying Up To Rs 50 More