Govt to question Meta over alleged child abuse ads on Instagram: Reports

Officials are expected to question Meta on the mechanisms it uses to monitor and block such material and the steps being taken to strengthen content moderation systems

by e4m Staff
Published: Jul 4, 2026 9:30 AM | 1 min read

Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed the ministry to summon representatives from Meta regarding allegations of Instagram ads linked to child sexual abuse material.
The government seeks a detailed response from Meta on how such advertisements were allowed and what measures are in place to prevent similar content.
This action follows a BBC report claiming that Instagram ran ads in India promoting child sexual abuse, with disturbing captions and links to Telegram channels offering illegal material.
A Meta spokesperson emphasized the company's strict "zero tolerance" policy towards child sexual abuse material and highlighted the use of advanced AI systems for content moderation.

Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has reportedly instructed the ministry to call in representatives of Meta over allegations that Instagram was used to circulate advertisements linked to child sexual abuse material.

As per media reports, the government will seek a detailed response from the tech company—parent of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp—on how such ads were permitted on its platform and what safeguards are in place to prevent similar content from appearing.

Officials are expected to question Meta on the mechanisms it uses to monitor and block such material and the steps being taken to strengthen content moderation systems.

The move follows a BBC investigative report claiming that Instagram had carried ads in India promoting child sexual abuse content. The report said the ads carried disturbing captions such as “rape video” and “child video,” and redirected users to Telegram channels where illegal material was allegedly being offered for as little as ₹99.

Responding to the development, a Meta spokesperson, as quoted in reports, reiterated that the company maintains a strict “zero tolerance” stance toward child sexual abuse material. The spokesperson also said the platform relies on advanced artificial intelligence systems to proactively identify and remove violating content, while noting that bad actors continuously attempt to evade detection across its vast global user base.