New Delhi: The Central Government has issued a stern notice to Meta over the alleged presence of Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) in paid advertisements on Instagram, directing the company to immediately remove such content and submit a detailed explanation within seven days.
According to sources cited by ANI, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has instructed Instagram to disable all advertisements and content that promote or facilitate access to child sexual abuse material. The move forms part of the Centre’s broader crackdown on the circulation of illegal and exploitative content on digital platforms.
Government seeks immediate action
MeitY has reportedly ordered Meta to take down all advertisements and related content linked to CSEAM on Instagram without delay.
The ministry has also sought a comprehensive explanation from the company regarding how such advertisements were allowed to appear on the platform. Meta has been asked to respond within seven days, outlining the measures it has taken and the safeguards it plans to strengthen.
The notice underscores the government’s increasing focus on ensuring digital platforms comply with Indian laws aimed at protecting children from online exploitation.
BBC investigation prompted scrutiny
The government’s action follows an investigation by BBC Eye, which reported that Instagram displayed paid advertisements containing phrases such as “rape video” and “child video”.
According to the investigation, these advertisements allegedly redirected users to Telegram channels where child sexual abuse material was reportedly being offered for sale for as little as Rs 99.
The report further claimed that the advertisements had passed Instagram’s moderation systems before being published on the platform, raising concerns about the effectiveness of Meta’s content review mechanisms.
Test account received disturbing advertisements
As part of its investigation, BBC Eye created a test Instagram account in India to study the platform’s recommendation system.
The report stated that after following a small number of accounts posting sexually suggestive content, the test account began receiving advertisements promoting explicit material.
Within days, it was reportedly shown advertisements depicting children in sexually suggestive situations alongside links directing users to Telegram channels.
The investigation identified around 30 unique advertisements allegedly promoting child sexual abuse material, along with approximately 20 advertisements featuring adult pornographic content.
Meta removes content after inquiry
Following questions from the BBC, Meta said it had disabled several advertisements and suspended the advertiser accounts involved.
The company later removed additional advertisements, disabled more accounts and blocked URLs associated with content that violated its policies.
Meta acknowledged that no moderation system is perfect and said it continues to use automated detection technology to identify policy violations even after advertisements have been published.
The company also encouraged users to report content that breaches its community standards.
Meta says it reports child exploitation cases
Meta stated that whenever it becomes aware of apparent child exploitation, it reports the material to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), an international clearinghouse for reporting online child sexual exploitation.
The company said it follows applicable legal requirements and works to remove exploitative content as quickly as possible once it is identified.
Government awaits Meta’s explanation
The Centre is now awaiting Meta’s response to the notice.
Officials expect the company to explain the reported lapses in its advertising review process and outline additional measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The latest action reflects the government’s continued emphasis on strengthening online child safety and holding digital platforms accountable for content published through their services.
Conclusion
The government’s notice to Meta marks another significant step in India’s efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation. By directing Instagram to immediately remove advertisements linked to CSEAM and seeking a response within seven days, MeitY has reinforced the responsibility of digital platforms to ensure robust moderation and child protection measures.