NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – India’s authorities are probing paid Instagram advertisements that facilitated access to child sexual abuse material by directing users to external links. Law enforcement officials identified roughly 30 separate ads associated with such illegal content. Multiple ads directed viewers to Telegram channels where unlawful material was available for purchase, with some listings starting at 99 rupees. Meta subsequently acknowledged that these ads violated its policies against child exploitation and took action by removing additional ads, accounts, and related links.
In their investigation, officials created an Instagram account in India and followed 10 profiles containing sexually suggestive posts. The platform soon began displaying paid ads for explicit adult content. Later advertisements featured children in sexually suggestive scenarios and included links to Telegram. Some advertiser accounts circulated more than one version of such material. The findings indicated that prohibited content managed to infiltrate Instagram’s commercial advertising system despite existing screening procedures intended to identify policy violations either before or after publication.
Investigators also flagged one ad involving a young child that was reported via Instagram’s own reporting mechanism. Initially, Instagram responded that the ad did not breach community standards. Meta later clarified that its automated detection systems had already identified several offending ads and disabled the related accounts. After gathering further information, Meta removed more ads and blocked URLs connected to the illegal content. The company emphasized that its policies strictly prohibit advertising that exploits, endangers, or sexualizes children.
Indian authorities challenge Meta on protective measures
Following the public disclosure of these findings in July, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology responded by instructing Meta to take action against ads and content that promote access to child sexual exploitation and abuse materials. Officials requested explanations on how these advertisements circumvented Instagram’s safeguards. The Indian government later confirmed it had taken the matter seriously, demanding a detailed response from the platform under the country’s online safety and compliance regulations.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights also issued notices to social media companies over this issue, later launching an investigation involving Meta’s services. Indian law mandates that online intermediaries address unlawful content involving minors. The Information Technology Act and its associated regulations assign specific responsibilities to major digital platforms operating within the nation. Additionally, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act offers legal protections against the sexual exploitation and abuse of minors.
Broader oversight raised by enforcement statistics
Meta reports that it employs automated tools to detect suspicious activity involving minors. During 2025, the company removed over 4 million Facebook and Instagram accounts worldwide for suspected misconduct. It also eliminated millions of instances of child exploitation content. Specifically, in India, Meta stated that its detection systems targeting suspicious off-platform links led to the removal of 160,000 accounts over six months. Advertising standards on the platform explicitly ban content related to child sexual exploitation.
Telegram, meanwhile, removed over 274,000 groups and channels connected to child sexual abuse material identified through enforcement measures. Indian authorities continue to examine how such prohibited ads bypass platform safeguards to reach users through paid Instagram promotions. The investigation also assesses whether platform controls adhered to legal standards. As of August 7, Meta acknowledged the existence of the violating ads and asserted that it had acted to remove related advertisements, accounts, and links.