Instagram Child Abuse Ads Trigger India Investigation Into Meta’s Ad Review System

A BBC investigation uncovered Instagram child abuse ads that appeared to promote child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to users in India, prompting the government to investigate Meta’s advertising practices. The findings have raised fresh concerns about the effectiveness of the company’s ad review system after paid promotions linked users to Telegram channels allegedly selling illegal content.

BBC Finds Instagram Child Abuse Ads in India

The BBC discovered dozens of paid Instagram advertisements containing phrases such as “rape video” and “child video.” The ads directed users to Telegram channels where sellers allegedly offered child sexual abuse material for as little as 99 Indian rupees, or about $1.

The broadcaster began its investigation after noticing Instagram recommending sexually suggestive content without any user interaction. To test the platform, journalists created a new Instagram account based in India.

Within a week, Instagram started displaying advertisements promoting explicit video calls and adult sexual content. A few days later, the platform began serving ads that showed children alongside adults in sexually suggestive situations.

The BBC documented 30 unique advertisements that appeared to promote child sexual abuse material. Instagram also served another 20 advertisements promoting adult pornography during the investigation.

India Summons Meta Representatives

The BBC shared its findings with Indian authorities, prompting the government to summon Meta representatives for an explanation.

Officials now want answers about how the advertisements passed Instagram’s moderation systems despite the company’s policies banning sexually explicit and exploitative content.

The investigation has also renewed concerns about whether automated moderation tools can effectively identify illegal advertisements before they reach users.

Meta Defends Its Advertising Review Process

Meta prohibits advertisers from publishing content containing nudity, sexual activity, or sexually suggestive imagery under its advertising policies.

The company reviews advertisements with automated detection systems before approving them. Human moderators step in whenever automated tools cannot determine whether an advertisement violates company rules.

However, Meta initially allowed one advertisement flagged by the BBC to remain online after reviewers concluded it did not breach the platform’s community standards.

After the BBC requested comment, Meta acknowledged that its moderation systems cannot detect every policy violation.

The company said it continues scanning advertisements after publication and encourages users to report ads that break its rules. Meta also said it reports suspected child sexual abuse material to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which works with law enforcement agencies.

Meta Removes Ads and Advertiser Accounts

After reviewing the BBC’s findings, Meta removed several advertisements identified during the investigation and disabled the accounts responsible for publishing them.

The company also blocked additional advertiser accounts and URLs that violated its policies.

Although Meta said its automated systems continue monitoring advertisements after they go live, the case highlights how illegal content can still bypass automated review.

Telegram Removes One Reported Channel

The BBC also identified two Telegram channels that allegedly sold child sexual abuse videos.

Telegram removed one of the channels for violating its terms of service. However, the second channel reportedly continued posting new material for sale after the BBC reported it.

The company told the BBC that it has “virtually eliminated the public spread of CSAM” through automated detection technology and human moderation.

India Reports Nearly Two Million CSAM Cases

The investigation comes as India continues reporting one of the world’s highest volumes of suspected child sexual abuse material.

According to data cited by the BBC, organizations reported approximately 1.9 million suspected CSAM cases in India during 2025. Only the United States recorded more reports, with around 2 million during the same period.

The investigation is likely to increase pressure on Meta and other social media companies to strengthen their advertising review systems and stop illegal content from reaching users through paid promotions.