India summons Meta over Instagram child abuse ads

The Indian government has summoned officials from Meta to explain how paid advertisements promoting child mistreatment material were allowed to appear on its Instagram platform. The action, directed by Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday, July 3, 2026, follows a BBC investigation that found dozens of such ads directing users to channels on Telegram where illegal content was allegedly sold.

According to the investigation, reporters created a test Instagram account in India that followed a small number of accounts posting suggestive content. Within days, the account began receiving targeted advertisements, first for explicit adult content and later for material involving children in sexually suggestive situations. The ads reportedly used terms like "assault video" and "child video" and linked to Telegram channels where the material could be purchased for as little as 99 rupees. The BBC documented approximately 30 unique advertisements promoting child mistreatment material.

In one instance cited in the report, an ad showing a distressed young girl with text implying sexual assault was flagged to Instagram. The platform reportedly...