India probes Meta over child sexual abuse material ads on Instagram
A BBC investigation found advertisements on Instagram promoting child sexual abuse material, which Instagram's moderation system had approved before publication. Indian regulators including the NCPCR and NHRC have launched formal inquiries into Meta's handling of the content and compliance with child protection laws.
What happened
A BBC Eye investigation in July 2026 found advertisements on Instagram promoting child sexual exploitative and abuse material (CSEAM), using graphic terms and linking users to Telegram channels where material was allegedly sold for as little as βΉ99.
Instagram's moderation system approved these ads before they went live, despite their content related to child abuse material.
Reported impact
The ads exposed users to child sexual exploitation material and facilitated access to such content through Telegram channels.
Index analysis
The NCPCR issued a notice to Meta Platforms on July 3, 2026, after the BBC report. Following Meta's response a week later, the NCPCR decided to institute a formal inquiry to determine the facts.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) directed Delhi Police to conduct a comprehensive probe and examine whether Meta complied with mandatory reporting obligations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology directed Meta to disable the ads and other content promoting CSEAM.
Governance controls
Instagram ads are published only after approval by its moderation technology, which failed to identify or prevent these CSEAM-related advertisements from going live.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.