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.
As part of broader efforts to combat online child exploitation, investigators created a fake Instagram account in India to monitor the platform for explicit material. This account followed 10 profiles that featured sexually suggestive posts. Within days, Instagram served the account with paid ads promoting adult pornography. Subsequently, ads appeared showing children in sexually suggestive contexts and linking to Telegram channels. Investigators identified roughly 30 distinct advertisements advocating for child sexual abuse material, some of which came from multiple advertiser accounts. The linked channels offered illegal content for prices starting at 99 rupees.
Instagram employs both automated systems and manual reviews to vet advertisements before they go live. During the investigation, one ad involving a young child was reported directly through Instagram’s reporting tool. The platform responded approximately 24 hours later, stating that the ad did not breach community standards. Meta later confirmed that its detection systems had already flagged several violating ads, leading to the disabling of related accounts. After further review, the company removed additional ads, deactivated more accounts, and blocked URLs associated with content that breached its policies.
India demands accountability and platform explanations
Meta stated it employs advanced technology to detect accounts involved in suspicious activity related to children. The company reported that it automatically removed over 4 million suspicious Facebook and Instagram accounts worldwide in 2025. It also eliminated 36 million pieces of content linked to child exploitation during that year. In India, Meta highlighted that detection efforts involving suspicious off-platform links led to the removal of 160,000 accounts over six months. Additionally, the company said it took down 13 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content globally between October and December 2025.
Following the public disclosure of the advertising issues in July, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology initiated action. Authorities requested information from Meta regarding the nature of the ads and the review mechanisms in place. On July 22, the Indian government expressed serious concern over reports connecting advertisements to child sexual abuse material and demanded a detailed report from the platform. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued notices to relevant social media services and subsequently launched an inquiry into allegations involving Meta’s platforms.
Investigation extends to online intermediaries and enforcement
India’s regulation of online platforms is governed by the Information Technology Act and the Rules established in 2021, which mandate due diligence in managing unlawful or harmful content. Platforms are required to warn users against sharing material that endangers children or breaches Indian law. Content involving child sexual abuse is also protected under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Meta asserts that it reports suspected child exploitation through formal channels, which ultimately notify Indian cybercrime authorities when necessary.
Telegram announced that it removed more than 274,000 groups and channels linked to child sexual abuse material during 2026. Meta maintains strict policies banning ads that exploit, endanger, or sexualize children and states that ad content is reviewed even after going live. The ongoing child protection inquiry in India now includes allegations that child sexual exploitative and abusive ads appeared on Meta platforms. As of August 7, authorities continue to examine the issue under India’s child-protection and online safety regulations.