Full Breakdown
Instagram Ads Promoting Child Sexual Abuse Material in India
7/3/2026, 10:01:57 PM
Instagram Ads Promoting CSAM in India
A BBC Eye investigation found Instagram paid ads in India using terms like “rape video” and “child video” that linked to Telegram channels selling CSAM for as little as INR99. About 30 distinct ads were identified. Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw ordered MeitY to summon Meta for explanation.
Background & Context
Instagram’s ad-approval relies on AI that scans media and escalates uncertain cases for human review. In March 2024 Meta announced a shift to greater AI use, saying “experts will design, train, oversee, and evaluate our AI systems.” Section 67B of India’s IT Act criminalises CSAM, and platforms must report it to NCMEC, which logged 1.9 million Indian reports in 2025.
Data & Statistics
About 30 CSAM ads and 20 adult-porn ads were found. Meta disabled over four million accounts in 2025 for suspicious behavior. Instagram generates nearly 98 % of Meta’s $200 billion revenue. Telegram removed over 274,000 CSAM groups in 2026, though some remain.
Official Statements & Responses
Meta said it disabled the ads, suspended the accounts and blocked URLs. It added that its review “may not detect all policy violations” and called the claim of deliberate targeting “categorially inaccurate,” stressing that “child exploitation is a horrific crime.” Telegram claimed it uses automated and human moderation and has “virtually eliminated the public spread of CSAM.” Minister Vaishnaw has asked Meta for a detailed explanation of the moderation failure.
Criticism & Opposition
Justice Madan Lokur warned Instagram was “making money by participating in a criminal activity.” NGOs such as the Rati Foundation and Just Rights for Children flagged detection gaps and urged stronger cooperation.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Meta’s initial review said an ad did not breach standards, yet it was later removed after the BBC report. Telegram said many groups were removed but at least one channel stayed active. No independent audit of Instagram’s ad-approval logs or Telegram’s removal data has been published.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We continue to run proactive detection technology on ads once they're live, and anyone can report an ad to us that they think breaks our rules,” — Meta spokesperson
- “no system is perfect, and our review process may not detect all policy violations” — Meta spokesperson
- “making money by participating in a criminal activity” — Justice Madan Lokur, retired Supreme Court of India
- “criminals use the seamless navigation from Instagram to Telegram to evade our moderation efforts, and keep reuploading the content we help take down” — Siddharth Pillai, co-founder, Rati Foundation
What’s Next
Meta must reply to MeitY within three days. The summons may trigger regulatory action under India’s IT Rules and possible legal proceedings. NGOs and law-enforcement agencies will keep monitoring as Instagram and Telegram refine moderation.
