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Instagram running ads promoting child sexual abuse material in India, BBC finds
The BBC said Instagram approved dozens of ads that linked users to Telegram channels selling child sexual abuse material for as little as 99 rupees.
- On Friday, a BBC Eye investigation revealed Instagram displayed paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material to users in India, with ads linking to Telegram channels selling illegal content.
- Meta relies on automated technology to approve advertisements, which failed to block content using terms like "rape video" and "child video," directing users to Telegram channels where illegal material sold for around $1.
- The BBC documented around 30 unique CSAM advertisements and approximately 20 adult pornography ads; when reported, Instagram initially replied the content did not violate "community guidelines," though Meta later suspended accounts and blocked URLs.
- Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to summon Meta officials, while Retired Indian Supreme Court Justice Madan Lokur expressed concern that Instagram was "making money by participating in a criminal activity."
- Meta stated it is "categorially inaccurate" to suggest it deliberately targeted such ads, noting it disabled more than four million accounts in 2025, while Telegram claimed it removed over 274,000 channels linked to CSAM in 2026.
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The BBC has found ads on Instagram in India that promote videos of child abuse and rape. The first reaction of the meta-group was poor. The Indian government demands a statement.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources38
Leaning Left9Leaning Right6Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 17%
R 33%
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