Story perspectives

Govt summons Meta over Instagram ‘rape video’ ads linking Telegram

7/3/2026

Summary

Meta Disables Ads

Government summoned Meta reps after BBC Eye found Instagram ads using terms like “rape video” that linked to Telegram where material sold for 99 rupees (about 80p).
Meta disabled the ads, suspended accounts and blocked URLs following the summons.
Telegram removed over 274,000 child-abuse groups in 2026; Meta said its review system disabled over four million accounts in 2025 and that nearly 98% of its $200 billion revenue comes from ads.

Summary

Meta Pauses Feature

The Indian government ordered Meta to pause WhatsApp’s username feature over fraud and impersonation concerns.
Meta was given three days after a Friday meeting to submit a detailed compliance explanation.
The action follows a prior summons to Instagram over child sexual abuse material, marking a second regulatory step this week.
Section 67B of the IT Act criminalises publishing electronic child sexual abuse material and obliges platforms to block it.

History

Historical Context

After a 2018 parliamentary motion on fake news, MeitY drafted Intermediary Guidelines that became the 2021 Rules, imposing penalties for non-compliance. The deadline of 25 May 2021 forced Meta to adjust its policies, and today the government’s summons over Instagram child-abuse ads and WhatsApp username pause reflect that ongoing legal enforcement trajectory.

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Meta Disables Ads

Government summoned Meta reps after BBC Eye found Instagram ads using terms like “rape video” that linked to Telegram where material sold for 99 rupees (about 80p).
Meta disabled the ads, suspended accounts and blocked URLs following the summons.
Telegram removed over 274,000 child-abuse groups in 2026; Meta said its review system disabled over four million accounts in 2025 and that nearly 98% of its $200 billion revenue comes from ads.

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