Government Orders Removal of Harmful Instagram Ads After Child Safety Concerns Surface

The Indian government has intensified its scrutiny of Meta after reports alleged that Instagram displayed advertisements promoting illegal child sexual abuse material. According to official sources, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has directed the company to immediately remove such advertisements and explain how they were allowed to appear on the platform.

The latest action follows a media investigation that claimed paid advertisements on Instagram directed users to Telegram channels where illegal content involving children was allegedly being offered for a small fee. The report stated that the advertisements contained highly explicit language and promoted links leading users to external messaging platforms.

Following these findings, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reportedly instructed ministry officials to summon Meta for clarification. The government is expected to seek detailed information about the company’s moderation systems and the safeguards in place to prevent such advertisements from reaching users. Officials also want to know what additional measures Meta plans to introduce to stop similar incidents in the future.

According to the investigation, a newly created Instagram account in India quickly began receiving sexually explicit recommendations before eventually being shown advertisements linked to Telegram channels. The report raised concerns about the effectiveness of the platform’s content moderation and advertising review process.

Meta responded by saying that no automated moderation system is flawless and acknowledged that some policy violating advertisements may occasionally bypass review mechanisms. The company stated that it continues to identify and remove advertisements that violate its policies even after they have gone live, while constantly improving its enforcement systems.

This is the second major action taken by the Indian government against Meta within a short period. Earlier, authorities raised concerns over WhatsApp’s proposed username feature, warning that it could increase the risks of online fraud, phishing, identity impersonation, and other cybercrimes. The government reportedly asked the company to pause the rollout until discussions with regulators are completed.

Officials also questioned whether the proposed WhatsApp feature fully complies with obligations under the Information Technology Act and related regulations. As a significant social media intermediary, Meta has been reminded of its responsibility to maintain due diligence and ensure user safety while introducing new services.

At the same time, Telegram has also come under renewed government scrutiny. Authorities have reportedly issued a notice to the messaging platform over the large scale circulation of pirated films and streaming content. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed Telegram to take immediate action against unauthorized distribution and submit a detailed action taken report within the prescribed time.

The recent developments indicate that Indian regulators are increasing oversight of major digital platforms, with child safety, cybercrime prevention, and copyright protection emerging as key areas of concern. Companies operating social media and messaging services are expected to strengthen moderation systems and respond more quickly to violations as regulatory expectations continue to rise.