NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – Instagram ran paid promotional content in India that encouraged access to child sexual abuse material, prompting Indian authorities and Meta to take action. Some of these ads directed users to Telegram channels that offered illegal content in exchange for payment, with prices beginning at 99 rupees in certain instances. Meta later acknowledged that these ads breached its policies against child exploitation. Following a review of the material uncovered during the investigation, the company removed additional ads, deactivated related accounts, and blocked associated links.
Investigators established an Instagram profile in India and monitored profiles featuring sexually suggestive content. The platform quickly started displaying paid advertisements for explicit material linked to this account. Over time, further ads showed children in sexually provocative poses and directed users to Telegram. Authorities documented roughly 30 distinct advertisements tied to child sexual abuse material, with some appearing under multiple advertiser accounts. These findings revealed that prohibited content managed to bypass Instagram’s review controls and enter its paid advertising system.
Instagram employs automated systems and, on occasion, human reviewers to evaluate advertisements. Investigators reported one instance where a young child’s image was involved in an ad flagged via Instagram’s reporting tools. Initially, the platform responded that the ad did not violate its standards. However, Meta later confirmed its detection systems had already flagged some offending ads, leading to the disabling of related accounts. The company further removed additional content after receiving supplementary information and also blocked URLs linked to material that violated its child sexual exploitation policies.
Indian authorities call for action from Meta
Following the public disclosure of these advertising issues in July, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology responded by instructing Meta to eliminate ads and content that promoted or facilitated access to child sexual abuse material. The ministry also demanded clarification on how such advertisements bypassed Instagram’s security measures. The Indian government subsequently stated it had taken serious note of the reports and requested a comprehensive response from the intermediary involved. Authorities continue to scrutinize compliance with India’s online safety regulations.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights also engaged in the investigation. The commission issued notices to social media platforms and initiated an inquiry into Meta’s services. Indian law mandates online intermediaries to act when confronted with unlawful material involving minors. The Information Technology Act along with related rules outline platform responsibilities for harmful online content, while the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act establishes criminal protections against exploitation and abuse involving minors.
Official review of platform enforcement measures
Meta claims it leverages technology to identify accounts exhibiting suspicious behavior related to children. During 2025, the company reported removing over 4 million Facebook and Instagram accounts worldwide for potential involvement in activities concerning minors. It also removed millions of pieces of child exploitation content. Specifically, in India, Meta’s detection systems targeting suspicious off-platform links resulted in about 160,000 account removals over a six-month span. The company emphasizes its strict policies against advertisements that exploit, endanger, or sexualize children.
This case has brought increased regulatory oversight onto Instagram’s advertising controls in India. Authorities are investigating how prohibited content was delivered to users via paid promotions and whether platform safeguards align with legal standards. Meta admits that ads violating policies appeared and states it has taken enforcement measures against related ads, accounts, and links. Following the investigation, Telegram also removed channels linked to illegal child sexual abuse content. As of August 7, India’s child protection agencies continue their inquiry into the material and the platforms involved.