iWorld
Centre cracks down on Meta over Instagram CSEAM advertisements
MeitY seeks reply in 7 days after BBC probe flags abuse content on Instagram
NEW DELHI: Looks like the spotlight has shifted from the feed to the filter. The Centre has tightened its scrutiny of Meta after allegations that illegal child sexual abuse content slipped through Instagram’s advertising systems, prompting the government to demand immediate action and a detailed explanation from the social media giant.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a notice directing Meta to immediately disable all advertisements and content on Instagram that promote or facilitate access to Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM). The company has also been asked to explain, within seven days, how such content was approved and displayed on the platform.
The move follows directions from Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who asked ministry officials to summon Meta executives after reports surfaced that paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material had appeared on Instagram in India.
According to sources, the government has sought a detailed account of Meta’s advertisement approval process, the safeguards currently in place to detect and prevent such content, and the corrective measures the company plans to implement to ensure similar incidents do not recur.
The regulatory action comes in the wake of a BBC Eye investigation published on July 3, which alleged that Instagram had carried paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material in India. The report claimed the advertisements contained explicit search terms and redirected users to Telegram channels where the illegal content was allegedly being sold for as little as Rs 99. It also alleged that some of the advertisements had passed Instagram’s automated moderation systems.
The latest notice marks another escalation in the government’s oversight of major digital platforms. Earlier this week, MeitY issued notices to Meta-owned WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal, seeking details about their username features and the safeguards in place to prevent fraud, impersonation and misuse. Officials are also reviewing WhatsApp’s proposed username restrictions, verification mechanisms and reporting systems.
The action underscores the Centre’s increasingly assertive approach towards platform accountability, with online safety, child protection and stronger content moderation emerging as key priorities amid the rapid expansion of digital services in India.
