Instagram running ads promoting child sexual abuse material in India, BBC finds
A BBC investigation found that Instagram has been running ads promoting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in India, with explicit content being shared via the platform's advertising system. The ads reportedly included links to Telegram channels selling CSAM. Meta, Instagram's parent company, said it had removed the content and was investigating the issue.
Background
- The BBC found that Instagram's ad system in India directs users to accounts selling child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Despite Meta's moderation tools, these accounts remained active for weeks after being reported.
- India is Meta's largest market by users (over 300 million), but lacks a dedicated national CSAM law — enforcement relies on broader IT Act provisions, which critics say are weaker than frameworks in the US or EU.
- This investigation follows a pattern: Meta faces lawsuits and regulatory probes globally over child safety, raising questions about whether enforcement is weaker in markets with less regulatory pressure.