New Delhi: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has directed Meta to disable advertisements and other content on Instagram that allegedly promote or facilitate access to child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM), according to government sources.
The Ministry has also sought a detailed explanation from the company, including information on the action taken, within seven days. The notice was reportedly issued on Saturday following directions from IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to senior officials.
The government is expected to determine its next course of action after examining Meta’s response, a source said.
The intervention follows an investigation by BBC Eye, which alleged that paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material had appeared on Instagram in India. According to the investigation, some of the advertisements allegedly directed users to Telegram channels where such material was available for purchase.
Responding to queries on the issue, a Meta spokesperson referred to an earlier statement issued after the BBC report, reiterating that the company has a “zero tolerance policy for soliciting or sharing CSAM”.
Meta said it uses technology to identify and remove such advertisements, while adding that it remains in a “constant battle with criminals” who attempt to evade detection across its user base of 3.5 billion people.
Instagram’s advertising policies prohibit content that violates standards relating to adult nudity and sexual activity. The platform’s rules bar advertisements containing nudity, sexual activity, sexually suggestive imagery or depictions of people in explicit positions, while imposing additional restrictions beyond its broader community standards.
The development also brings renewed focus on the legal obligations of digital platforms operating in India. The Information Technology Act, 2000 provides penalties for publishing or transmitting obscene and sexually explicit material electronically, with stricter provisions covering material depicting children in sexually explicit acts.
Under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, social media intermediaries are required to exercise due diligence and remove specified unlawful content within prescribed timelines. Failure to comply with these obligations can affect the legal exemption available to platforms for third-party content hosted on their services.
The government has also established mechanisms to address online crimes against children. The Ministry of Home Affairs operates the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, which accepts complaints relating to various cyber offences with a special focus on crimes against children. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has also been set up to coordinate efforts against cybercrime.
In addition, the government has periodically blocked websites containing child sexual abuse material based on lists received from Interpol through the Central Bureau of Investigation. Internet service providers have also been directed to restrict access to identified web pages and websites carrying such illegal content.
