NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – Instagram ran paid promotional content in India that facilitated access to child sexual abuse material, prompting regulatory investigation and actions from Meta. Several of these advertisements directed users to Telegram channels where illegal content was offered in exchange for payment. Authorities recorded approximately 30 separate ads linked to such material, with some appearing from multiple advertiser accounts. Meta later acknowledged that these ads breached its policies against child exploitation and took steps to delete additional advertisements, accounts, and links associated with the illicit content.
Investigators established an Instagram account in India and followed ten profiles posting sexually provocative content. Within days, paid ads promoting explicit adult material began to show up. Subsequently, more advertisements displayed minors in sexually suggestive scenarios and directed viewers outside Instagram. Several links led to Telegram channels that offered illegal content for as little as 99 rupees. These findings demonstrated that prohibited material had infiltrated Instagram’s advertising platform despite the platform’s review and moderation efforts.
One such ad involving a young child was flagged through Instagram’s integrated reporting feature. Initially, Instagram responded that the ad did not breach its community standards. However, Meta later confirmed that its automated systems had already flagged some offending ads and disabled the related accounts. Following further investigation prompted by investigators’ additional discoveries, Meta proceeded to remove more ads, deactivate further accounts, and block URLs that violated its policies on child sexual exploitation.
Indian authorities demand clarity on ad moderation measures
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India responded to the revelations in July, instructing action against advertisements and content that promoted access to child sexual abuse and exploitation materials. It also requested details on how such advertisements bypassed Instagram’s safeguards. The government later emphasized the seriousness of the reports and demanded a comprehensive response from the platform under India’s online safety and platform compliance regulations.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued notices to various social media platforms concerning this issue and subsequently launched an inquiry involving Meta. Indian law mandates online intermediaries to actively address unlawful material and content that could harm children. The Information Technology Act and related regulations outline the responsibilities of major digital service providers in the country, while the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act offers additional protections against sexual exploitation and abuse of minors.
Meta’s ongoing efforts to remove harmful content and the child protection investigation
Meta states that it employs automated systems designed to detect accounts displaying suspicious activity involving minors. During 2025, the company reported removing over 4 million Facebook and Instagram accounts worldwide due to potentially suspicious behavior. It also eliminated millions of instances of child exploitation material across its platforms. In India, Meta reported that its systems targeting suspicious links outside the platform contributed to 160,000 account removals over a six-month span. The company’s advertising policies strictly prohibit content that exploits, endangers, or sexualizes children.
Telegram has also taken action by removing channels linked to child sexual abuse material identified through enforcement activities. The platform announced that during 2026, it removed more than 274,000 groups and channels associated with such content. Indian authorities are scrutinizing how these illegal advertisements managed to reach users via paid promotions and whether platform controls are compliant with legal standards. Meta acknowledged that such violating ads appeared and stated it had taken measures against related accounts, advertisements, and links. As of August 7, the inquiry into child protection issues in India remains ongoing.