Meta Faces Government Scrutiny Over Alleged CSAM Advertisements on Instagram

The Centre has intensified scrutiny of Meta over allegations that paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) appeared on Instagram , with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) set to issue a notice seeking an explanation from the company.

Acting on directions from IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw , the ministry will ask Meta to clarify how such advertisements were approved, what corrective measures have been taken, and what additional safeguards will be implemented to prevent similar incidents. The move follows a BBC investigation alleging that Meta's recommendation systems promoted videos containing CSAM and that advertisements carrying terms such as "rape video" and "child video" directed users to Telegram channels where illegal content was reportedly being sold.

Responding to the allegations, Meta reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards CSAM, stating that it uses advanced AI technology and dedicated teams to detect and remove violating content while continuously strengthening its safety systems.

Government sources said platforms cannot rely solely on the 'third-party content' defence when allegations involve paid advertisements that generate revenue. If the claims are proven, Meta could face legal accountability under India's Information Technology Act .

The government highlighted that Section 67B of the IT Act criminalises publishing, transmitting, creating, downloading, storing or distributing electronic material depicting children in sexually explicit acts. The IT Rules also require intermediaries to exercise due diligence in removing illegal content or risk losing safe harbour protections.

The notice marks the second regulatory action against Meta this week after the Centre questioned WhatsApp's proposed username feature over concerns that it could increase phishing, impersonation and other cybercrimes, signalling a broader push for stronger accountability of digital platforms operating in India.