NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – Instagram ran paid advertisements in India that promoted access to child sexual abuse material, according to findings published in July. Some ads directed users from Instagram to channels on Telegram offering illegal material for sale. Meta Platforms later acknowledged that the advertisements violated its policies against child exploitation. The findings triggered action from Indian authorities and raised questions about enforcement within Instagram’s paid advertising system. India has since sought explanations from Meta and expanded official scrutiny of the matter.
Investigators created an alias Instagram account in India to examine sexually explicit material appearing on the platform. The account followed 10 profiles that featured sexually suggestive posts. Within days, Instagram served the account paid advertisements for adult pornography. Subsequently, ads appeared depicting children in sexually suggestive scenarios, linking to Telegram channels. Approximately 30 distinct advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material were documented by investigators, with some appearing through multiple advertiser accounts. The linked channels provided access to illegal content starting at 99 rupees.
Instagram employs both automated systems and manual checks to review advertisements before they are published. Investigators reported submitting one advertisement involving a young child directly through Instagram’s reporting system. After approximately 24 hours, the platform responded and stated that the ad did not violate community standards. Meta later confirmed that its systems had already identified several violating ads and disabled related accounts. Further review of additional findings led to the removal of more advertisements, the disabling of additional accounts, and the blocking of URLs associated with content that breached policies.
India mandates platform accountability and demands explanations
Meta stated that it relies on technology to detect accounts exhibiting potentially suspicious activity involving minors. The company reported removing over 4 million suspicious Facebook and Instagram accounts worldwide in 2025. It also eliminated 36 million pieces of content related to child exploitation during the same period. In India, Meta claimed that detection efforts involving suspicious off-platform links led to the removal of 160,000 accounts within a six-month span. Additionally, the company removed 13 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content globally from October through December 2025.
Following the public disclosure of the Instagram advertising findings in July, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology responded by seeking information from Meta regarding the advertisements and the review processes in place. On July 22, the Indian government publicly noted its concern over reports linking ads to child sexual abuse material and requested a detailed report from the intermediary involved. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued notices to relevant social media platforms and later launched an investigation into allegations concerning Meta’s services.
Investigation into Child Protection Widens to Cover More Platforms
India’s regulation of online intermediaries, under the Information Technology Act and the rules introduced in 2021, mandates platforms to exercise due diligence in managing unlawful and harmful content. These regulations also require platforms to warn users against sharing material that could harm children or breach Indian laws. Child sexual abuse material is additionally protected under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Meta asserts that it reports suspected cases of child exploitation through established channels that ultimately notify Indian cybercrime authorities when necessary.
Telegram revealed that it removed over 274,000 groups and channels connected to child sexual abuse content during 2026. Meta maintains strict policies prohibiting advertisements that sexually exploit, endanger, or sexualize minors, and it reviews ads even after they go live. The ongoing child rights inquiry in India now investigates allegations that child sexual abuse and exploitative advertisements appeared on Meta’s platforms. As of August 7, authorities continue their examination under India’s child-protection and online safety frameworks.