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. This account followed 10 profiles featuring sexually suggestive posts. Within a few days, Instagram served the account paid advertisements for adult pornography. Subsequent ads displayed children in sexually suggestive situations and linked to Telegram channels. Approximately 30 distinct advertisements promoting child sexual abuse content were documented by investigators, some appearing through multiple advertiser accounts. The linked channels provided access to illegal material starting at 99 rupees.
Instagram’s review process involves automated systems alongside manual checks before ads are published. Investigators reported one advertisement involving a young child that was directly flagged through Instagram’s reporting system. The platform responded approximately 24 hours later, claiming the ad did not breach community standards. Meta later stated its systems had already detected several violating ads and disabled related accounts. After analyzing additional evidence, the company removed more ads, deactivated further accounts, and blocked URLs connected to content that breached its policies.
India mandates platform accountability and explanations
Meta asserts that it employs technology to identify accounts displaying potentially suspicious activity involving minors. The company indicated that over 4 million suspicious Facebook and Instagram accounts were automatically removed worldwide in 2025. It also eliminated 36 million pieces of content related to child exploitation during that year. In India, detection efforts linked to off-platform suspicious links contributed to 160,000 account removals over six months. Globally, Meta states it removed 13 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content from October through December 2025.
The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology responded after the July revelations about Instagram advertisements. Authorities requested detailed information from Meta regarding the advertisements and the review procedures employed. On July 22, the government announced it had taken serious note of reports involving ads related to child sexual abuse material and requested a comprehensive report from the intermediary involved. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued notices to relevant social media platforms and subsequently launched an investigation into the allegations involving Meta’s services.
Broader child protection investigations underway
India’s online intermediary regulations are governed by the Information Technology Act and the 2021 Information Technology Rules, which obligate platforms to exercise due diligence in managing unlawful or harmful content. These rules also require platforms to warn users against sharing material that could harm children or violate Indian law. Child sexual abuse material is protected under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Meta claims it reports suspected child exploitation through established channels that ultimately notify Indian cybercrime authorities when necessary.
Telegram reported the removal of over 274,000 groups and channels linked to child sexual abuse content in 2026. Meta maintains policies that prohibit advertisements exploiting, endangering, or sexualizing children, and states that advertiser review continues even after ads are live. The ongoing child-rights investigation in India now includes allegations that child sexual exploitation and abuse advertisements appeared on Meta-owned platforms. As of August 7, authorities are continuing their examination under India’s child-protection and online-safety frameworks.