Key facts
- India's government has ordered Meta to immediately disable advertisements and content on Instagram that promote child sexual abuse material.
- A notice was issued to Meta seeking an explanation within a week on how such advertisements were allowed on the platform.
- Meta has stated it has a zero-tolerance policy for child sexual abuse material and employs AI for detection.
The Indian government has issued a stern notice to Meta, demanding the immediate removal of advertisements and content on Instagram that promote or facilitate child sexual abuse material. This action follows an investigation by BBC Eye that reportedly found paid advertisements on the platform promoting such material in India.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has requested a detailed explanation from Meta within seven days regarding how advertisements containing child sexual abuse material were permitted on Instagram. A senior official stated that the ministry has ordered Instagram to disable all ads and content that promote or facilitate access to such material.
A Meta spokesperson affirmed the company's zero-tolerance policy towards child sexual abuse material, including in advertisements. The spokesperson noted the use of advanced AI technology for detection but acknowledged the ongoing challenge posed by individuals attempting to evade these systems. The company denied knowingly targeting ads featuring children to users with inappropriate interests and refuted prioritizing revenue over safety.