India Threatens Meta With Legal Action Over Instagram Child Abuse Ads

The ministry's action follows reports that Instagram had displayed advertisements that promoted child abuse content, sparking public outrage and raising questions about Meta's content moderation practices in the country. The government has given Meta a specific timeframe to respond, though the exact deadline was not disclosed in the notice.

Meta, which has faced similar criticism globally, has not yet issued a public statement regarding the Indian government's notice. The company has previously stated that it uses automated tools and human reviewers to detect and remove CSAM, but the recent incidents suggest gaps in its enforcement.

Legal experts say that if Meta is found to have violated Indian laws, it could face fines or other penalties, though the specifics would depend on the outcome of the government's investigation. The notice also requires Meta to provide details of the ads in question, including the number of times they were shown and the measures taken to prevent their recurrence.

This development adds to the growing pressure on social media platforms to strengthen safeguards against child exploitation, particularly in India, where internet usage is surging. The government's move signals a stricter regulatory stance toward tech companies operating in the country.