New Delhi: The Indian government has directed Meta to immediately remove advertisements and content on Instagram that promote or facilitate child sexual abuse material. The action follows concerns over paid advertisements that allegedly appeared on the social media platform, prompting authorities to seek an explanation from the technology company.
According to government officials, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued a formal notice ordering Meta to disable all advertisements and content linked to child sexual abuse material. The company has also been asked to submit a detailed explanation within seven days on how such paid advertisements were allowed to appear on Instagram.
The directive comes after an investigation reported that Instagram displayed paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material in India. The investigation claimed that some advertisements directed users to external messaging platforms where illegal content was allegedly being offered.
In response, Meta said it has a zero-tolerance policy toward child sexual exploitation and abuse. The company stated that it uses advanced artificial intelligence systems to detect and remove violating content while continuously improving its safety measures to prevent criminals from misusing its platforms.
Meta also rejected suggestions that it knowingly targeted inappropriate content at users or prioritised advertising revenue over user safety. The company described child exploitation as a serious crime and said it actively works with technology and enforcement measures to identify and remove harmful material.
The latest action by the Indian government highlights increasing scrutiny of major social media platforms over online safety and content moderation. Authorities have indicated that they expect stricter enforcement from digital platforms to prevent illegal content from reaching users, particularly where children are at risk.
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