NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – Instagram ran paid advertisements within India that facilitated access to child sexual abuse content, prompting investigations by Indian authorities and Meta. Some of these ads directed users to Telegram channels selling illegal material for payment, with prices starting at 99 rupees in certain instances. Meta later acknowledged that the advertisements violated its policies against child exploitation. Following a review of the material uncovered during the probe, the company removed additional ads, deactivated related accounts, and blocked associated links.
Authorities in India created an Instagram account to monitor profiles with sexually suggestive content. The platform quickly began displaying paid ads for explicit materials on this account. Subsequent advertisements featured children in provocative situations and linked users to Telegram. Investigators identified around 30 distinct ads connected to child sexual abuse material, with some appearing under multiple advertiser accounts. These findings revealed that banned content had infiltrated Instagram’s paid advertising system despite the platform’s review mechanisms.
Instagram employs automated systems and sometimes human moderation to review ads. Investigators reported that one ad involving a young child was flagged using Instagram’s reporting tools. Initially, the platform responded that the ad did not breach its standards. Meta later stated its detection systems had already identified some offending advertisements and that related accounts had been disabled. The company also removed further content after receiving additional reports and blocked URLs linked to material violating its child sexual exploitation policies.
Indian authorities press Meta for action
Following the public disclosure of these findings in July, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology responded by instructing Meta to eliminate ads and content that promote or facilitate access to child sexual abuse material. The ministry demanded details on how such advertisements bypassed Instagram’s safeguards. Later, the Indian government stated it had taken the reports seriously and requested a comprehensive response from the involved intermediary. Regulatory agencies continued to scrutinize compliance with India’s online safety laws.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights also joined the investigation, issuing notices to social media platforms and initiating an inquiry into Meta’s services. Indian legislation assigns responsibilities to online intermediaries when they encounter unlawful content involving minors. The Information Technology Act, along with its rules, mandates platform accountability for harmful online material. Additionally, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act provides criminal protections against sexual exploitation and abuse of minors.
Official review of platform enforcement underway
Meta claims to utilize technology to identify accounts exhibiting suspicious activity involving minors. The company reported deleting over 4 million Facebook and Instagram accounts globally in 2025 for behaviors that raise concern regarding minors. It also eliminated millions of pieces of child exploitation content. In India alone, detection systems targeting suspicious links led to 160,000 account removals within six months. Meta maintains strict policies against advertisements that exploit, endanger, or sexualize children.
The incident has brought Instagram’s advertising controls into formal review in India. Authorities are investigating how illegal material was distributed through paid promotions and whether platform safeguards comply with legal standards. Meta confirmed that offending ads appeared but stated it has taken enforcement measures against related ads, accounts, and links. Telegram also removed channels linked to illegal child sexual abuse content following identification. As of August 7, Indian child protection officials continued their investigation into the materials and the platforms involved.