NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – Instagram ran paid promotional content in India that facilitated access to child sexual abuse material, prompting Indian authorities and Meta to intervene. Some of these ads directed users to Telegram channels offering illegal content for payment, with prices starting at 99 rupees in certain cases. Meta later acknowledged that the advertisements violated its policies against child exploitation. Following an investigation, the company removed additional ads, deactivated related accounts, and blocked links identified during the inquiry.
Authorities set up an Instagram account in India and monitored profiles featuring sexually suggestive content. The platform soon displayed paid advertisements from the account promoting explicit material, which later included images of children in sexually provocative poses and directed users to Telegram. Investigators found approximately 30 distinct ads linked to child sexual abuse material, some appearing under multiple advertiser accounts. The findings indicated that prohibited content had bypassed Instagram’s review controls and entered its paid advertising system.
Instagram employs automated systems and occasional human review to vet advertisements. Investigators reported one ad involving a young child that was flagged using Instagram’s reporting tools. Initially, the platform responded that the ad did not breach its standards. However, Meta later clarified that its detection systems had already identified some offending ads and disabled related accounts. Additional content was removed after further information was provided, and the company also blocked URLs associated with material violating its child sexual exploitation policies.
Indian authorities demand Meta take action
Following the disclosure of these advertising violations in July, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology responded by instructing Meta to eliminate ads and content that promoted or facilitated access to child sexual exploitative and abusive material. The ministry also requested explanations on how such advertisements bypassed Instagram’s safeguards. Later, the Indian government stated it was taking the reports seriously and requested a detailed reply from the involved intermediary. Authorities continued their investigation into compliance with India’s online safety regulations.
The case also drew the attention of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, which issued notices to social media platforms and launched an inquiry into Meta-owned services. Indian legislation imposes obligations on online intermediaries when they encounter unlawful content involving minors, with the Information Technology Act and related rules defining platform responsibilities for harmful online material. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act establishes criminal protections against sexual exploitation and abuse of minors.
Official scrutiny targets platform enforcement
Meta states that it employs technology to detect accounts exhibiting suspicious activity related to children and reported removing over 4 million Facebook and Instagram accounts globally during 2025 for behaviors potentially involving minors. The company also reported removing millions of pieces of child exploitation content. In India, detection systems targeting off-platform links contributed to 160,000 account removals in a six-month span. Meta maintains strict policies against advertisements that exploit, endanger, or sexualize children.
This incident has placed Instagram’s advertising controls under formal investigation in India, with authorities scrutinizing how illegal material reached users via paid promotions and whether the platform’s safeguards met legal standards. Meta admitted that offending ads appeared and stated it had taken enforcement actions against related ads, accounts, and links. Additionally, Telegram removed channels connected to illegal child sexual abuse material following their identification. As of August 7, India’s child protection authorities continue their inquiry into the involved content and platforms.