Centre Summons Meta After Instagram Ads Promote Child Abuse Material

The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has summoned Meta executives following a BBC investigation that revealed Instagram displayed paid advertisements containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The BBC identified approximately 30 unique advertisements promoting illegal content and 20 featuring adult pornography, which bypassed Meta’s automated safety filters. These ads allegedly directed users to Telegram channels where illegal material was sold. Authorities have explicitly rejected Meta’s "third-party content" defense, signaling a shift toward holding platforms strictly accountable for safety standards.

This incident highlights significant weaknesses in Meta’s algorithmic content moderation. While Meta initially claimed the ads complied with policy, it later removed the content and suspended associated accounts under public pressure. The government is concerned by the platform's failure to prevent the promotion of prohibited material through sponsored posts. Parallel to this, the government is considering stricter regulations for Virtual Private Network (VPN) providers to ensure these tools do not facilitate illegal activities or hinder official investigations, further tightening control over digital infrastructure.

The summoning reflects a growing demand for tech giant accountability. Retired Supreme Court Justice Madan Lokur has criticized platforms for hiding behind user-generated content policies. Meanwhile, Telegram has reported removing over 274,000 groups linked to similar content, underscoring the massive scale of the challenge. As India reports record volumes of CyberTipline child exploitation cases in 2025, the administration is evaluating robust oversight mechanisms. Tech companies now face immense pressure to appoint local compliance officers and implement pre-vetting processes for all advertisements to operate safely within the Indian market.