Patna: Meta will now report cases involving child safety directly to Indian police and relevant law enforcement agencies, government sources said on Tuesday, in a move aimed at strengthening the response to child sexual exploitation and other harmful content online.
The decision comes amid increased scrutiny from the Government of India over how social media platforms detect, remove and report content that threatens children’s safety.
Controversy Over Instagram Advertisements
The issue gained attention after a BBC investigation in July 2026 identified about 30 advertisements on Instagram that used terms associated with the sexual exploitation of children and allegedly directed users to Telegram channels containing inappropriate material.
Following the investigation, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued a notice to Meta. The ministry sought the immediate removal of the advertisements and content and asked the company to explain how the material had appeared on its platform.
Meta acknowledged that some of the advertisements violated its policies but denied deliberately targeting users with such content. The company subsequently removed the advertisements, suspended the associated accounts and blocked the links.
Meta also said its systems had detected many such advertisements and accounts. The company has maintained that it follows a zero-tolerance approach to child exploitation and uses technologies, including artificial intelligence, to identify and remove such material.
NCPCR And NHRC Take Action
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) also intervened in the matter and summoned Meta India officials. Company representatives appeared before the commission on September 9.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) separately took cognisance of the issue and sought reports from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Delhi Police on the action taken so far.
Government sources said Meta’s decision to share information directly with Indian agencies is an initial step, while further measures are expected to strengthen online child-safety mechanisms.
Direct Reporting To Indian Agencies
Previously, Meta primarily reported relevant cases to the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), after which information could reach Indian agencies.
Direct reporting to Indian law enforcement could reduce delays in information reaching investigators and help authorities respond more quickly to cases involving the exploitation of children.
The government is also engaging with other social media platforms and asking them to strengthen systems for proactively detecting and removing harmful material.
Focus On Platform Accountability
The government has maintained that social media companies operating in India must take effective measures to protect children online. Platforms are expected to improve the scrutiny of advertisements, remove harmful content promptly and share relevant information with law enforcement agencies.
Officials have indicated that platforms failing to take adequate preventive measures could face regulatory action.
The latest development places greater emphasis on direct cooperation between social media companies and Indian authorities as the government steps up efforts to address online risks faced by children.
