The Centre has issued a notice to Meta, directing the company to immediately remove content on Instagram that allegedly helped users access child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM).

The government has also asked Meta to submit a detailed explanation within seven days. It warned that failure to respond could lead to legal action.

Alleged Instagram Ads Trigger Action

The action follows allegations that paid advertisements on Instagram promoted search terms linked to child sexual abuse material. The ads allegedly redirected users to Telegram channels where such content was being sold.

According to an NDTV report, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has asked Meta to explain how these advertisements were approved despite the company's policies banning sexually explicit content and child exploitation.

Centre Orders Immediate Removal

MeitY has instructed Instagram to remove all content that facilitates access to child sexual exploitation and abuse material without delay.

The ministry has also asked Meta to explain the corrective steps it has taken since the allegations surfaced. It wants details of the safeguards the company plans to introduce to stop similar incidents in the future.

The Centre has also questioned the alleged algorithmic amplification of such content. It has sought an explanation for how paid advertisements linked to child abuse material appeared on the platform.

Government Warns of Legal Action

The Centre said Meta must provide the requested information within the specified time. If the company fails to comply, it could face legal proceedings under the Information Technology Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

BBC Investigation Raises Concerns

The notice follows a BBC investigation that alleged Meta's recommendation systems promoted videos containing child sexual abuse material. The report also claimed that advertisements carrying search terms such as "rape video" and "child video" appeared on Facebook and Instagram.

According to the investigation, these advertisements directed users to Telegram channels where child sexual abuse material was allegedly available for sale. The findings have raised fresh concerns about online child safety and the responsibility of social media companies to stop the spread of illegal content.

Meta Responds to Allegations

A Meta spokesperson told news agency PTI that the company follows a zero-tolerance policy towards child sexual abuse material. The spokesperson said Meta uses advanced artificial intelligence tools to detect and remove content that violates its policies. The company admitted that criminals constantly try to evade its detection systems across platforms used by nearly 3.5 billion users worldwide.

Meta added that its specialised safety teams continue to strengthen security systems, develop new technologies to identify offenders, block links to websites hosting illegal material, and share intelligence with other technology companies to improve detection and enforcement efforts.