The Centre has issued a notice to Meta over allegations that paid advertisements on Instagram promoted child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM), directing the company to remove such content immediately and explain how the advertisements were allowed to appear on the platform.
According to government sources, the notice was served on Saturday evening, a day after Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw instructed officials of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to summon the company over the allegations.
Sources said MeitY has ordered Instagram to disable all advertisements and content that promote or facilitate access to child sexual exploitation and abuse material. The ministry has also sought details of the action taken by Meta and directed the company to submit a comprehensive explanation within seven days.
The government’s action follows a recent BBC investigation that alleged Meta’s recommendation system promoted videos containing child sexual abuse material. The report also claimed that paid advertisements appeared on Facebook and Instagram despite the company’s policies prohibiting sexually explicit content. According to the investigation, some Instagram advertisements allegedly featured terms such as “rape video” and “child video”, directing users to Telegram channels where such material was reportedly being sold.
Officials are expected to seek clarification from Meta on how the advertisements were approved, the corrective measures taken after the allegations surfaced, and the safeguards being introduced to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Government sources further stated that Meta cannot claim intermediary protection if the allegations involve paid advertisements from which the platform generates revenue. If the allegations are established, the company could be held accountable for the advertisements, they added.
While MeitY will examine the regulatory and technical aspects of the matter, authorities said complaints may also be filed against advertisers or platforms if violations of Indian law are found during the investigation.
Reiterating its zero-tolerance policy towards child sexual abuse material, the government said online platforms are required to promptly detect, remove and report such content. It also noted that websites hosting CSAM have previously been blocked based on lists received from Interpol through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India’s national nodal agency for Interpol.
The notice marks the second regulatory action against Meta this week. Earlier, the Centre questioned the company’s proposed username feature for WhatsApp, expressing concerns that it could facilitate phishing, impersonation and other forms of cyber fraud. The government asked Meta to suspend the rollout until consultations are completed and sought an explanation on why action should not be initiated under the Information Technology Act and related rules. Officials said the company is expected to respond within the prescribed timeline.
