NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – In India, authorities are investigating paid Instagram advertisements that facilitated access to child sexual abuse material by linking users outside the platform. Around 30 separate ads connected to such illicit content were identified by investigators, with several directing users to Telegram channels offering illegal material for payment, some listings starting at 99 rupees. Meta confirmed that these ads violated its policies on child exploitation and subsequently removed additional ads, accounts, and related links.
An Instagram account was created by investigators in India, where they followed 10 profiles posting sexually suggestive content. The platform quickly began serving paid ads featuring explicit adult material, with later advertisements showing children in provocative situations and including links to Telegram. Some advertiser accounts ran multiple versions of such material. The findings indicated that despite existing screening measures designed to catch policy violations before or after publication, prohibited content managed to infiltrate Instagram’s commercial advertising system.
Investigators also reported discovering an advertisement involving a young child through Instagram’s own reporting system, which initially received a response from Instagram claiming the ad did not breach community standards. However, Meta later stated that its automated detection systems had already identified several offending ads, leading to the disabling of related accounts. After obtaining further information, Meta removed more ads and blocked URLs associated with the material, reaffirming that its rules prohibit advertising that exploits, endangers, or sexualizes children.
Indian authorities challenge Meta’s safety measures
Following the July publication of these findings, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology responded by instructing Meta to take action against ads and content that promote access to child sexual exploitation and abuse material. Officials demanded explanations on how such advertisements bypassed Instagram’s safeguards, with the Indian government later emphasizing that it had taken the reports seriously and requested a detailed reply from the intermediary as per the country’s online safety and compliance regulations.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued notices to various social media platforms regarding the issue and launched an inquiry involving Meta’s services. Indian law mandates that online intermediaries respond to unlawful content involving minors, with the Information Technology Act and related regulations outlining the responsibilities of major digital platforms operating within the country. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act also offers criminal protections against sexual exploitation and abuse involving minors.
Broader scrutiny over enforcement efforts
Meta reports that it relies on automated systems to detect suspicious activity involving children and that, during 2025, it removed over 4 million Facebook and Instagram accounts worldwide for potential misconduct. The company also eliminated millions of pieces of child exploitation content across its platforms. Specifically, in India, detection mechanisms focused on suspicious off-platform links led to the removal of 160,000 accounts over six months. Advertising standards on Meta explicitly prohibit content related to child sexual exploitation.
Additionally, Telegram removed channels associated with child sexual abuse material identified through enforcement measures, claiming to have deleted more than 274,000 groups and channels related to such content in 2026. Indian authorities continue to examine how prohibited advertisements were able to reach users through paid promotions on Instagram and whether the platform’s controls complied with legal requirements. As of August 7, Meta acknowledged the presence of violating ads and stated that it had taken action against associated advertisements, accounts, and links.
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