NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – Instagram promoted paid promotions in India that encouraged access to child sexual abuse material, according to findings published in July. Some of these advertisements directed users from Instagram to Telegram channels selling illegal content. Meta Platforms later admitted that these ads breached its policies against child exploitation. This discovery prompted Indian authorities to take action and raised concerns about enforcement within Instagram’s paid advertising system. Subsequently, India requested explanations from Meta and increased official oversight of the issue.
In an effort to examine sexually explicit content on the platform, investigators created a fake Instagram account in India. The account followed 10 profiles featuring sexually suggestive posts. Within days, Instagram served the account with paid advertisements for adult pornography. Later, ads appeared showing children in sexually suggestive scenarios, linked to Telegram channels. Investigators documented approximately 30 distinct ads promoting child sexual abuse material, some of which appeared through multiple advertiser accounts. The linked channels provided illegal content for prices starting at 99 rupees.
Instagram’s ad review process combines automated systems and manual checks before any advertisement appears on the platform. Investigators reported one ad involving a young child directly via Instagram’s reporting system. The platform responded about 24 hours later, stating that the ad did not violate community standards. Meta later indicated that its systems had already identified several violating ads and had disabled the related accounts. After further review, the company removed additional ads, deactivated more accounts, and blocked URLs linked to content violating policies.
India demands platform accountability and clarification
Meta stated that it deploys technology to detect accounts that display potentially suspicious activity involving children. The company reported that it automatically removed over 4 million suspicious Facebook and Instagram accounts worldwide in 2025. It also eliminated 36 million pieces of content related to child exploitation during that year. In India, Meta noted that detection of suspicious off-platform links led to the removal of 160,000 accounts over a six-month span. Additionally, it claimed to have taken down 13 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content globally from October through December 2025.
Following the July publication of the advertising findings, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology responded by seeking information from Meta regarding the ads and the review processes involved. On July 22, the Indian government expressed serious concern over reports linking advertisements to child sexual abuse material and requested a detailed report from the concerned intermediary. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued notices to relevant social media platforms and later launched an inquiry into the allegations against Meta-owned services.
Expanded child protection investigation underway
India manages online intermediaries through the Information Technology Act and the Information Technology Rules introduced in 2021, requiring platforms to exercise due diligence when dealing with unlawful or harmful content. Platforms are also mandated to warn users against sharing material that endangers children or breaches Indian law. Child sexual abuse material is protected under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Meta claims it reports apparent child exploitation via established channels that ultimately notify Indian cybercrime authorities when needed.
Telegram reported removing over 274,000 groups and channels linked to child sexual abuse material in 2026. Meta emphasizes its policies banning ads that exploit, endanger, or sexualize children, and states that advertisers are subject to review even after campaigns go live. The ongoing child-rights investigation in India now involves examining allegations of child sexual exploitative and abusive ads on Meta-owned platforms. As of August 7, authorities continue their inquiry under India’s child protection and online safety regulations.