Government Seeks Explanation from Meta Over Alleged Instagram CSAM Ads
The Centre has summoned Meta to explain reports that paid advertisements promoting or facilitating access to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) appeared on Instagram, intensifying regulatory scrutiny of the social media platform's advertising and content moderation systems.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a notice to Meta after media reports alleged that Instagram users in India were served advertisements containing illegal search terms and links associated with child sexual exploitation material. The government has directed the company to immediately remove such advertisements and submit a detailed explanation within seven days.
The move follows a BBC investigation that reported Instagram had displayed paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material to test accounts in India. According to the investigation, some advertisements allegedly directed users to Telegram channels where illegal content was offered for sale. The report also claimed that one advertisement flagged through Instagram's reporting mechanism was initially deemed compliant with the platform's policies before later being removed.
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw directed ministry officials to seek a formal explanation from Meta, stating that platforms must act swiftly against illegal and exploitative content. Government officials have reportedly asked Meta representatives to appear before the ministry to explain how the advertisements passed the company's review systems.
The Centre's notice reportedly instructs Meta to immediately disable all advertisements and content promoting child sexual exploitative and abuse material while strengthening safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future. Authorities are also examining whether existing content moderation and advertising review mechanisms were sufficient to detect and block such content before publication.
Meta has said it uses artificial intelligence, human reviewers and partnerships with child safety organisations to identify and remove exploitative content across its platforms. The company has maintained that child safety remains one of its highest priorities and that it continuously invests in technologies designed to detect abusive material and prevent offenders from misusing its services.
The latest development adds to growing regulatory attention on digital platforms operating in India. Over the past year, authorities have increased oversight of social media companies over issues ranging from user safety and misinformation to platform accountability and compliance with the Information Technology Rules.
Child safety has become a key area of concern for regulators worldwide as online platforms expand their advertising ecosystems and recommendation algorithms. Governments are increasingly demanding greater transparency around automated content moderation, advertising approvals and AI powered recommendation systems to prevent illegal material from reaching users.
For digital advertising platforms, the incident highlights the challenges of balancing automated ad review systems with effective human oversight. Industry experts note that as advertising volumes increase, technology companies are relying more heavily on AI based moderation tools, while continuing to refine detection models for illegal and harmful content.
The case also underscores growing expectations for technology companies to strengthen proactive detection rather than relying solely on user reporting. Regulators globally have been calling for faster removal of child exploitation material, greater transparency in enforcement actions and stronger collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
For marketers, the incident serves as a reminder of the increasing importance of brand safety and platform governance. As advertisers continue investing in digital channels, confidence in advertising ecosystems increasingly depends on platforms demonstrating robust safeguards against harmful or illegal content.
The government's action signals continued regulatory focus on platform accountability as India expands oversight of online intermediaries. Meta's response and any subsequent corrective measures are expected to be closely watched by policymakers, advertisers and the wider technology industry.