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, using automated systems and manual checks. Investigators reported one advertisement involving a young child directly through Instagram’s reporting system. The platform responded about 24 hours later and said the advertisement did not violate its community standards. Meta later said its systems had already detected several violating ads and disabled related accounts. After reviewing additional findings, the company removed more advertisements, disabled more accounts and blocked URLs connected to content that violated its policies.
India orders platform action and explanation
Meta said it uses technology to identify accounts showing potentially suspicious activity involving children. The company said it automatically removed more than 4 million suspicious Facebook and Instagram accounts globally during 2025. It also removed 36 million pieces of content for child exploitation that year. In India, Meta said detection involving suspicious off-platform links contributed to 160,000 account removals during a six-month period. The company also said it removed 13 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content globally from October through December 2025.
India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology acted after the Instagram advertising findings became public in July. Authorities sought information from Meta about the advertisements and the controls used to review them. On July 22, the Indian government said it had taken serious note of reports involving advertisements linked to child sexual abuse material. It also sought a detailed report from the intermediary concerned. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued notices to relevant social media platforms and later opened an inquiry into the allegations involving Meta-owned services.
Child protection inquiry expands scrutiny
India regulates online intermediaries through the Information Technology Act and the Information Technology Rules introduced in 2021. The framework requires platforms to exercise due diligence when handling unlawful or harmful content. It also requires platforms to inform users against sharing material that harms children or violates Indian law. Child sexual abuse material also falls under protections established by the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Meta says it reports apparent child exploitation through established reporting channels that ultimately notify Indian cybercrime authorities when required.
Telegram said it had removed more than 274,000 groups and channels connected to child sexual abuse material during 2026. Meta maintains policies banning advertisements that sexually exploit, endanger or sexualize children. It also says advertisers remain subject to review after ads begin running. The Indian child-rights inquiry now covers allegations that advertisements related to child sexual exploitative and abuse material appeared on Meta-owned platforms. As of August 7, authorities continue examining the matter under India’s child-protection and online-safety framework.