Ashwini Vaishnaw directs MeitY to summon Meta over Instagram ads allegedly promoting child sexual abuse material: Sources
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Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed officials in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to summon Meta and seek an explanation over Instagram advertisements allegedly promoting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in India, sources told Fortune India.
"IT Minister has directed MeitY officials to summon Meta on the matter of Instagram ads promoting child sexual abuse material in India. MeitY will seek an explanation from Meta on the issue," sources told Fortune India.
According to people familiar with the matter, MeitY will seek clarity from Meta on how such advertisements appeared on Instagram, the safeguards that were in place to prevent them, and the corrective measures taken by the company after the issue surfaced. The ministry is also expected to ask the social media giant to explain its advertisement review and content moderation processes, along with the measures being implemented to ensure that similar incidents do not recur.
Government to examine Meta's ad review and content moderation mechanisms
Sources said the ministry will seek details of Meta's systems for reviewing advertisements and moderating content, including the processes used to detect and prevent unlawful and harmful material from being amplified through paid promotions. Officials are also likely to assess whether the company's existing safeguards comply with its obligations under India's digital regulatory framework.
The development comes amid increasing global scrutiny of technology platforms over their ability to detect and curb child exploitation content. Regulators across several jurisdictions have been pressing social media companies to strengthen automated detection systems, tighten advertising oversight and improve enforcement against content that violates child safety norms.
Social media platforms operating in India are required to comply with due diligence obligations under the Information Technology Act and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, including taking prompt action against unlawful content in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Meta did not immediately respond to Fortune India's queries. The story will be updated if and when the company issues a response.
Second government action against Meta this week
The latest development marks the second regulatory action involving Meta by the Centre this week.
On Wednesday, the government issued a notice to Meta over WhatsApp's proposed username feature, expressing concerns that the rollout could significantly increase online fraud, phishing, impersonation and so-called "digital arrest" scams. The Centre directed WhatsApp to pause the rollout of the feature until consultations with the government are completed to its satisfaction.
The government also asked Meta to explain why action should not be initiated under the Information Technology Act and the rules framed under it over the proposed feature, saying the functionality could heighten cybercrime risks. It further reminded the company that WhatsApp, as a significant social media intermediary, is required to comply with the due diligence obligations prescribed under the IT Act and the Intermediary Rules.
The back-to-back interventions indicate the Centre's increasingly assertive approach towards oversight of large digital platforms, with a sharper focus on intermediary accountability, user safety and compliance with India's digital governance framework. The outcome of MeitY's engagement with Meta over the Instagram issue could determine whether any further regulatory action follows.