NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – Instagram is reported to have run paid ads in India that encouraged access to child sexual abuse material, according to findings published in July. Several of these ads directed users from Instagram to Telegram channels where illegal material was available for purchase. Meta Platforms later admitted that these advertisements breached its policies against child exploitation. This discovery prompted Indian authorities to take action and raised questions about enforcement within Instagram’s paid advertising system. Consequently, India has requested explanations from Meta and increased official scrutiny of the issue.
To investigate sexually explicit content appearing on the platform, investigators created an anonymous Instagram account in India. This account followed 10 profiles that posted sexually suggestive content. Within a few days, Instagram served paid advertisements for adult pornography to this account. Subsequent ads depicted children in sexually suggestive scenarios and linked to Telegram channels. The investigators identified approximately 30 distinct advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material, some of which appeared via multiple advertiser accounts. The linked channels offered illegal content at prices starting from 99 rupees.
Instagram employs automated systems and manual reviews to vet advertisements before they go live. Investigators reported one instance where a young child’s image was directly involved in an ad flagged through Instagram’s reporting system. The platform responded within roughly 24 hours, claiming the ad did not breach its community standards. Meta later stated that its systems had already detected several violating ads and that accounts involved had been disabled. After further review of additional findings, Meta removed more ads, shut down additional accounts, and blocked URLs associated with content that violated its policies.
India mandates platform accountability and seeks clarifications
Meta stated that it utilizes technology to detect accounts showing potentially suspicious activity involving minors. The company reported that during 2025, it automatically eliminated over 4 million suspicious Facebook and Instagram accounts worldwide. Additionally, 36 million pieces of content related to child exploitation were removed during that year. In India, Meta highlighted that detection of suspicious off-platform links contributed to the removal of 160,000 accounts over six months. The company also reported the global removal of 13 million items of child sexual exploitation content from October to December 2025.
Following the public disclosure of the Instagram advertising findings in July, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology took action. Authorities sought detailed information from Meta regarding the advertisements and the review mechanisms employed. On July 22, the Indian government announced that it had taken serious note of reports concerning advertisements linked to child sexual abuse material and requested a comprehensive report from the intermediary involved. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued notices to relevant social media platforms and subsequently launched an inquiry into the allegations involving Meta-owned services.
Broader child protection investigation intensifies
India’s regulatory framework for online intermediaries, governed by the Information Technology Act and the Rules introduced in 2021, mandates that platforms exercise due diligence when managing unlawful or harmful content. They are also required to alert users against sharing material that could harm children or contravene Indian laws. Child sexual abuse material is protected under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Meta asserts that it reports suspected child exploitation through established channels, which ultimately notify Indian cybercrime authorities when necessary.
Telegram reported removing over 274,000 groups and channels associated with child sexual abuse content during 2026. Meta emphasizes that its policies prohibit advertisements that sexually exploit, endanger, or sexualize children. The platform states that advertisers are subject to review even after their ads go live. The ongoing child-rights investigation in India now scrutinizes allegations that child sexual exploitation advertisements appeared on Meta’s platforms. As of August 7, authorities continue to examine the situation under India’s child-protection and online-safety regulations.