NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – Instagram ran paid ads in India that facilitated access to child sexual abuse content, prompting intervention from Indian officials and Meta. Some of these ads directed users to Telegram channels where illegal material was available for purchase, with prices as low as 99 rupees in certain instances. Meta later acknowledged that these advertisements breached its policies on child exploitation. Following an assessment of the content flagged during the probe, 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 imagery. The platform soon began displaying paid advertisements linked to this account for explicit content. Subsequent ads displayed minors in sexually provocative scenarios and directed users to Telegram. About 30 distinct ads connected to child sexual abuse material were documented by investigators, with some appearing under multiple advertiser accounts. These findings revealed that prohibited content was infiltrating Instagram’s paid advertising system despite the platform’s review mechanisms.
Instagram’s ad review process involves automated detection systems and, occasionally, manual checks. Investigators reported an incident where a young child was featured in an ad flagged through Instagram’s reporting tools. Initially, Instagram responded that the ad did not breach its standards. However, Meta later confirmed that its systems had already identified some problematic advertisements and had disabled the relevant accounts. Additional content was removed following further review, and the company also blocked URLs associated with material violating its child sexual exploitation policies.
Indian authorities press Meta for action
Following the exposure of these advertisements in July, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued a directive to Meta to eliminate ads and content that encouraged or facilitated access to child sexual abuse and exploitation material. The ministry also requested details on how such advertisements circumvented Instagram’s safeguards. The Indian government later emphasized that it was taking the matter seriously and sought a comprehensive response from the involved intermediary. Regulatory authorities continued their review to ensure compliance with India’s online safety standards.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights also became active in this investigation. The commission issued notices to social media platforms and subsequently launched an inquiry into Meta’s services. Under Indian law, online intermediaries are mandated to act when encountering unlawful content involving children. The Information Technology Act and associated regulations outline platform responsibilities for harmful digital material, while the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act provides criminal safeguards against minors’ sexual exploitation and abuse.
Official scrutiny of platform enforcement measures
Meta stated that it relies on technology to identify accounts exhibiting suspicious behavior related to children. The company reported removing over 4 million Facebook and Instagram accounts globally in 2025 for potentially concerning activity involving minors. It also claimed to have taken down millions of pieces of content related to child exploitation. In India, detection systems targeting off-platform links contributed to the removal of 160,000 accounts over six months. The firm’s policies strictly prohibit advertisements that exploit, endanger, or sexualize children.
This case has triggered formal scrutiny of Instagram’s advertising controls in India. Officials are investigating how such illegal content managed to reach users through paid promotions and whether the platform’s safeguards aligned with legal standards. Meta has acknowledged the presence of offending ads and stated it took enforcement measures against related ads, accounts, and links. Following the investigation, Telegram also deleted channels linked to illegal child sexual abuse content. As of August 7, child protection authorities in India continued their inquiry into the material and the platforms involved in distributing it.