NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – Instagram ran paid advertisements within India that facilitated access to child sexual abuse content, prompting Indian authorities and Meta to take action. Some of these ads directed users to Telegram channels offering illegal material for payment, with prices starting at 99 rupees in certain cases. Meta subsequently confirmed that these advertisements breached its policies against child exploitation. Following a review of the material uncovered during the investigation, the company removed additional ads, deactivated related accounts, and blocked associated links.
Investigators created an Instagram account in India and monitored profiles featuring sexually suggestive content, which soon resulted in the platform displaying paid advertisements for explicit material to the account. Later ads involved children depicted in sexually provocative scenarios and directed users to Telegram. Authorities documented around 30 distinct ads linked to child sexual abuse content, with some appearing under multiple advertiser accounts. These findings demonstrated that prohibited content had infiltrated Instagram’s paid advertising system despite the platform’s review mechanisms.
Instagram’s advertisement review process relies on automated systems complemented by occasional human oversight. During the investigation, one ad involving a young child was reported using Instagram’s reporting tools. Initially, the platform responded that the ad did not violate its standards, but Meta later revealed that its detection systems had already identified some offending advertisements, leading to the disabling of associated accounts. Further content was removed once additional information was received, and Meta also blocked URLs linked to material that violated its rules against child sexual exploitation.
Indian authorities demand action from Meta
Following the public disclosure of these findings in July, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued a directive to Meta to eliminate advertisements and content that promoted or facilitated access to child sexual abuse and exploitation material. The ministry also requested details on how such ads bypassed Instagram’s protective measures. Subsequently, the Indian government stated that it had taken the reports seriously and asked for a comprehensive response from the involved intermediary, continuing to assess compliance with the country’s online safety regulations.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights also engaged in the case, issuing notices to various social media platforms and launching an inquiry specifically into Meta’s services. Indian law imposes obligations on online intermediaries when they encounter illegal content involving minors, with the Information Technology Act and related rules outlining responsibilities for harmful online material. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act further establishes criminal protections against sexual exploitation and abuse involving minors.
Official scrutiny of platform enforcement measures begins
Meta has stated that it employs advanced technology to identify accounts exhibiting suspicious activity related to children and reported removing over 4 million Facebook and Instagram accounts worldwide during 2025 due to potentially suspicious behavior involving minors. The company also reported removing millions of pieces of child exploitation content. In India, detection mechanisms targeting off-platform links contributed to the removal of 160,000 accounts within a six-month period. Meta maintains strict policies that prohibit advertisements exploiting, endangering, or sexualizing children.
This case has prompted formal scrutiny of Instagram’s advertising controls within India, with authorities investigating how prohibited material was able to reach users through paid promotions and whether the platform’s safeguards satisfied legal standards. Meta has acknowledged the presence of offending advertisements and confirmed that enforcement actions were taken against related ads, accounts, and links. After being identified, Telegram also removed channels connected to illegal child sexual abuse material. As of August 7, Indian child protection agencies continue their investigation into the material and the platforms involved.