NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – In India, authorities uncovered paid Instagram advertisements that directed users outside the platform to access child sexual abuse content. Investigators identified approximately 30 separate ads associated with such material, with some ads leading to Telegram channels offering illegal content for purchase. Listings in these ads started at 99 rupees. Meta later confirmed these ads violated its policies on child exploitation and removed additional advertisements, accounts, and associated links.
During the investigation, a new Instagram account was created in India, where ten profiles exhibiting sexually suggestive posts were followed. Soon after, the platform began serving paid ads promoting explicit adult content. Subsequent advertisements featured children in sexually suggestive contexts and included links to Telegram. Multiple versions of such material were seen running from certain advertiser accounts. The research revealed that banned content had infiltrated Instagram’s commercial advertising system despite existing screening measures designed to detect policy violations either before or after publication.
Further findings included an ad involving a young child, reported through Instagram’s own system. Initially, Instagram responded that the ad did not violate its community standards. However, Meta later clarified that its automated detection systems had already flagged several offending ads, leading to the disabling of related accounts. After additional information was gathered, Meta removed more ads and blocked URLs linked to the illegal content. The company reaffirmed that its policies prohibit advertising that exploits, endangers, or sexualizes children.
Indian authorities hold Meta accountable over safety measures
Following the revelations in July, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued a response, instructing Meta to take action against advertisements and content that facilitate access to child sexual abuse material. Officials requested information about how such ads bypassed Instagram’s safeguards. Later, the Indian government indicated it was taking the reports seriously and asked the platform for a detailed account under the country’s online safety and compliance laws.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights also issued notices to various social media companies concerning this issue and launched an inquiry targeting Meta’s services. Indian legislation mandates that online intermediaries must address unlawful content involving minors. The Information Technology Act and related regulations outline the responsibilities of major digital platforms, while the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act offers criminal protections against child exploitation and abuse.
Broader scrutiny on enforcement efforts intensifies
Meta reports that it deploys automated detection systems to identify accounts engaged in suspicious activities involving children. During 2025, the company removed over 4 million Facebook and Instagram accounts globally for potentially suspicious conduct, along with millions of pieces of child exploitation content. In India alone, detection tools focused on suspicious off-platform links led to 160,000 account removals over a six-month span. The company’s advertising policies explicitly ban content related to child sexual exploitation.
Similarly, Telegram also took action by removing channels linked to child abuse material identified through enforcement activities. During 2026, over 274,000 groups and channels associated with such material were taken down. Indian authorities remain engaged in examining how these prohibited ads reached users via paid promotions on Instagram. The ongoing inquiry also considers whether platform controls complied with legal standards. As of August 7, Meta acknowledged the violations, stating it had already taken measures against the flagged ads, accounts, and links.