Centre Summons Meta Officials Over Alleged Child Abuse Ads On Instagram
Centre seeks explanation from Meta over alleged inappropriate Instagram ads.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has summoned officials of Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook, following allegations that advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material were found circulating on Instagram in India, according to official sources. The move comes amid growing concern over online safety and the regulation of harmful content on social media platforms.
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed the ministry to seek a detailed explanation from Meta regarding how such advertisements were allowed to appear on its platform. Officials are expected to question the company on its content moderation systems and the steps it is taking to prevent the circulation of illegal and harmful material. The summons reflects heightened government scrutiny of digital platforms operating in India.
The development follows a report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which alleged that Instagram hosted advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material in India. The report claimed that some ads used highly objectionable phrases such as “rape video” and “child video,” and were reportedly linked to Telegram channels where such content could allegedly be accessed for a fee. The findings have triggered serious concerns over the effectiveness of platform safeguards.
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According to the BBC investigation, after the issue was reported to Instagram, the platform responded within 24 hours, stating that the posts did not violate its community guidelines at the time of review. However, Meta later informed the media outlet that it had removed several of the advertisements and suspended the accounts responsible for posting them. The company also stated that it had blocked URLs associated with content that violated its policies.
Following the backlash, Meta has reportedly taken corrective measures, including disabling offending advertisements and suspending accounts involved in the activity. Despite these actions, the government is seeking clarification on how such content initially bypassed moderation systems. The case has renewed discussions around accountability of social media platforms and the need for stronger enforcement of child protection policies online.
