New Delhi, September 8 (Daily Kiran) : The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has summoned the managing director of Meta India to appear before it on September 9. This action follows an investigation into advertisements allegedly linked to child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM).
The commission took note of a media report from BBC I, prompting it to issue a notice to Meta Platforms, Inc. on July 3, 2026, seeking clarification on the accusations. Meta responded to the notice a week later.
After reviewing Meta’s response, the NCPCR decided to initiate a formal inquiry to uncover the facts and circumstances surrounding the case. As part of this ongoing process, the commission has now called upon Meta India’s MD to provide further information on September 9.
The BBC I investigation alleged that Instagram was running paid advertisements promoting content related to child sexual exploitation in India. According to the report, the ads contained terms like “rape videos” and “child videos,” directing users to channels on the messaging app Telegram, where such material could allegedly be purchased for just 99 rupees.
It was noted that advertisements on Instagram are only published after approval from the platform’s moderation technology. When the BBC brought a specific advertisement to Instagram’s attention, the platform reportedly stated the next day that the post did not violate its community guidelines.
The NCPCR’s inquiry aims to uncover the truth behind these allegations and assess the adequacy of Meta’s response.
Additionally, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has instructed the Delhi Police to conduct a thorough investigation into claims that paid advertisements on Instagram have promoted CSEAM in India. The NHRC has also asked police to determine whether Meta and related entities have fulfilled their mandatory reporting obligations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).
The NHRC raised this issue following reports from BBC World Service, which alleged that specific terms were used in Instagram ads, directing users to channels where such content was purportedly being sold.
Leave a Comment