India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is set to summon a representative from Meta after an investigative report alleged that Instagram carried advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material, prompting the government to seek an explanation from the social media company.
According to government sources, the ministry has taken serious note of the allegations and directed officials to issue a notice to Meta, the parent company of Instagram. The notice orders the platform to immediately remove all advertisements and content that promote or facilitate access to Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM).
The government has given Meta seven days to submit a detailed response explaining how advertisements allegedly directing users to external platforms hosting illegal child sexual abuse content appeared on Instagram. Officials have also sought clarification on the platform’s content moderation practices and measures to prevent similar incidents.
Sources said the ministry considers the alleged algorithmic promotion of sexually exploitative content a matter of grave concern and has instructed Meta to implement immediate corrective measures to strengthen safeguards on the platform.
The action follows an investigation by BBC Eye, which reported finding paid Instagram advertisements containing objectionable search terms such as “rape video” and “child video.” According to the report, the advertisements linked users to external social media channels where child sexual abuse material was allegedly available for purchase.
The investigation also claimed that after one such advertisement was reported to Instagram, the platform initially responded that it did not violate its community standards. Meta later said it had removed several advertisements and suspended the accounts responsible for posting them after reviewing the content.
BBC Eye also created a new Instagram account to examine the platform’s recommendation system. The investigation found that the account was shown sexually suggestive content despite not searching for such material. Recommendations reportedly included posts by women in India sharing everyday content such as food, weather and daily activities, with some posts featuring revealing clothing or sexual innuendo.
Indian law treats the publication and transmission of child sexual abuse material as a serious criminal offence. Under Section 67B of the Information Technology Act, publishing or transmitting electronic material depicting children in sexually explicit acts is punishable by law.
The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal defines Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material as any content containing sexual images or videos involving children who have been abused or exploited.
The latest action reflects India’s increasing scrutiny of major technology platforms over online safety and harmful content. Authorities have repeatedly urged social media companies to strengthen their monitoring systems and comply with Indian digital regulations aimed at protecting children and preventing the spread of illegal content.
Meta has not publicly responded to the government’s latest notice. The company is expected to submit its explanation within the seven-day deadline while outlining the steps it plans to take to address the concerns raised by Indian authorities.
