Lilian Nyiva
The Indian government has directed Meta to immediately disable advertisements and content on Instagram that promote or facilitate child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM). The directive was issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which also served the company with a formal notice demanding an explanation over the alleged appearance of such content on the platform.
Seven-Day Deadline for Response
Authorities have given Meta seven days to explain how the advertisements were allowed to appear on Instagram and outline the measures it has taken to remove the content. The government warned that failure to provide a satisfactory response could result in legal action under India's Information Technology Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Concerns Over Platform Safety
The government's action follows reports alleging that paid advertisements on Instagram promoted or directed users to child sexual abuse material. Officials have also raised concerns over Instagram's recommendation systems, questioning whether they may have contributed to the spread or visibility of the illegal content.
Meta Reaffirms Zero-Tolerance Policy
In response, Meta said it has a zero-tolerance policy against child sexual exploitation and abuse. The company stated that it uses artificial intelligence, automated detection tools, and specialist review teams to identify and remove offending content. It also said it continues to work with law enforcement agencies and child safety organizations to combat online exploitation.
Increased Regulatory Scrutiny
The directive underscores India's increasing focus on online child safety and the responsibility of digital platforms to prevent the distribution of illegal content. The case adds to growing global pressure on social media companies to strengthen content moderation systems and ensure their platforms are not used to facilitate child exploitation.
