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. Later ads showed children in sexually suggestive situations and linked to Telegram channels. Investigators documented about 30 unique advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material. Some appeared through multiple advertiser accounts. The linked channels offered access to illegal material for prices starting at 99 rupees.
Instagram reviews advertisements before they appear on the platform, utilizing automated systems and manual checks. Investigators reported one advertisement involving a young child directly through Instagram’s reporting system. The platform responded approximately 24 hours later, stating the advertisement did not violate its community standards. Meta later confirmed its systems had already detected several violating ads and disabled related accounts. After reviewing additional findings, the company removed more advertisements, disabled further accounts, and blocked URLs connected to content that violated its policies.
India mandates platform action and demands explanations
Meta stated it employs technology to identify accounts showing potentially suspicious activity involving children. The company indicated it automatically removed over 4 million suspicious Facebook and Instagram accounts worldwide during 2025. It also removed 36 million pieces of content related to child exploitation that same year. In India, Meta reported that detection of suspicious off-platform links contributed to 160,000 account removals over a six-month span. Additionally, the company said it removed 13 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content globally from October through December 2025.
Following the public revelation of the Instagram advertising investigation in July, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology took action. Authorities requested detailed information from Meta regarding the ads and the measures used to review them. On July 22, the Indian government expressed serious concern over reports linking advertisements to child sexual abuse material. It also requested a comprehensive report from the concerned intermediary. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued notices to relevant social media platforms and later launched an inquiry into the allegations involving Meta’s services.
Child protection investigation broadens oversight
India regulates online intermediaries through the Information Technology Act and the Information Technology Rules introduced in 2021. The regulatory framework requires platforms to exercise due diligence in managing unlawful or harmful content. It also obligates platforms to alert users against sharing material that endangers children or breaches Indian laws. Child sexual abuse material is protected under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Meta states it reports apparent child exploitation via established reporting channels, which ultimately notify Indian cybercrime authorities when necessary.
Telegram claimed it had removed more than 274,000 groups and channels linked to child sexual abuse material during 2026. Meta maintains policies banning advertisements that sexually exploit, endanger, or sexualize children. The company also emphasizes that advertisers remain subject to review even after ads go live. The ongoing child-rights investigation in India now includes allegations that ads involving child sexual exploitation and abuse material appeared on Meta platforms. As of August 7, authorities continue examining the issue under India’s child-protection and online-safety policies.