NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – Instagram carried paid advertisements in India that promoted access to child sexual abuse material, drawing action from regulators and Meta. Some ads directed users to Telegram channels that offered illegal material for payment. Investigators documented about 30 distinct advertisements connected to such content. Some appeared through multiple advertiser accounts. Meta later confirmed that the ads violated its child exploitation rules and removed additional ads, accounts and links tied to the material.
Investigators created an Instagram account in India and followed 10 profiles containing sexually suggestive posts. Paid advertisements for explicit adult content began appearing within days. Later ads showed children in sexually suggestive settings and directed viewers outside Instagram. Several links led to Telegram channels offering illegal material for as little as 99 rupees. The findings showed that prohibited content had entered Instagram’s advertising system despite the platform’s review and enforcement processes.
One advertisement involving a young child was reported through Instagram’s built-in reporting system. Instagram initially responded that the ad did not violate its community standards. Meta later said its systems had already found some offending advertisements and disabled accounts connected to them. The company reviewed further material after investigators presented additional findings. Meta then removed more advertisements, shut additional accounts and blocked URLs that breached its policies on child sexual exploitation.
Indian authorities seek answers on ad controls
India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology responded after the findings became public in July. The ministry ordered action against advertisements and content promoting access to child sexual exploitative and abuse material. It also sought details about how such advertising passed Instagram’s safeguards. The Indian government later said it had taken serious note of the reports. Officials requested a detailed response from the intermediary involved under India’s online safety and platform compliance framework.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights also issued notices to social media platforms over the matter. It later opened an inquiry involving services owned by Meta. Indian law requires online intermediaries to address unlawful material and content that harms children. The Information Technology Act and related rules set duties for major digital platforms operating in the country. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act provides additional legal safeguards against sexual exploitation and abuse involving minors.
Meta removals and child protection inquiry continue
Meta says it uses automated systems to identify accounts showing suspicious activity involving children. The company reported removing more than 4 million Facebook and Instagram accounts worldwide during 2025 for potentially suspicious behavior. It also reported removing millions of pieces of child exploitation content across its services. In India, Meta said systems targeting suspicious off-platform links contributed to 160,000 account removals over six months. Its advertising policies prohibit content that exploits, endangers or sexualizes children.
Telegram has also removed channels linked to child sexual abuse material identified through enforcement efforts. The company said it removed more than 274,000 groups and channels connected to such material during 2026. Indian authorities are examining how prohibited advertisements reached users through paid promotions and whether platform controls met legal requirements. Meta has acknowledged that violating ads appeared and says it acted against related accounts, advertisements and links. As of August 7, the Indian child protection inquiry remained active.