India Orders Meta to Remove Instagram Ads Promoting Child Abuse Material
New Delhi has given the company seven days to explain how paid adverts for illegal material passed review, escalating a probe sparked by a BBC investigation.
July 5, 2026 – 2:14 pm
Image by: Anthony Quintano from Westminster, United States
Summary
India’s IT ministry has ordered Meta to immediately remove Instagram ads and content promoting child sexual exploitation material. The company must provide a detailed explanation within seven days about how the ads were approved and the safeguards it will implement. This follows a BBC Eye investigation and last week’s summons of Meta executives, potentially jeopardizing Meta’s safe harbor under Section 79 of India’s IT Act.
Background
The ministry’s actions escalate a row that began with the summoning of Meta executives over concerns regarding algorithmic amplification of child abuse material. The trigger was a BBC Eye investigation revealing that a test account in India received around 30 distinct paid ads using explicit search terms, redirecting users to Telegram channels selling illegal content for as little as INR 99 (approximately $1).
Global Context
India is not alone in targeting platforms over child safety. The UK’s Ofcom has initiated a child safety investigation into Telegram under the Online Safety Act. In the US, lawmakers have passed a kids’ online safety package in the House, while advocacy groups have urged the FTC to investigate Roblox over child safety concerns. Moreover, a significant number of GDPR fines against social platforms already relate to child data protection issues in Europe.
Impact on Meta
Given that India is Meta’s largest market by users, the Indian notice carries substantial weight. If the BBC’s findings are confirmed, the platform not only hosted but also sold ad space promoting illegal content.