Instagram Ads Under Probe: Govt issues notice to Meta over CSAM allegations

Govt Issues Notice to Meta Over Alleged CSAM Ads on Instagram: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has directed officials to summon representatives of Meta after reports surfaced regarding paid advertisements on Instagram allegedly promoting Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), according to sources.

MeitY seeks explanation from Meta

As per the notice issued on Saturday evening, MeitY has ordered Instagram to disable all advertisements and content linked to the promotion or facilitation of access to CSEAM. The ministry has also sought a detailed explanation from the company within seven days, sources added.

Action follows media report on Instagram ads

The move comes after a media report claimed that Instagram hosted paid advertisements containing disturbing keywords and links redirecting users to other social media channels where such content could allegedly be accessed or purchased.

Earlier, sources said the ministry had already taken cognisance of reports suggesting that objectionable material promoting child sexual abuse was visible on the platform, and had directed officials to seek a response from Meta.

Government questions content moderation systems

IT officials are reportedly seeking clarification on how such advertisements were able to bypass Meta’s pre-publication review and content moderation systems. The government is also reviewing whether the platform has complied with India’s intermediary safety guidelines.

Child exploitation content is a criminal offence

Authorities have reiterated that the distribution of pornography and Child Sexual Abuse Material is a criminal offence in India under existing digital laws.

Under Section 67(B) of the IT Act, publishing or transmitting material depicting children in sexually explicit acts in electronic form is punishable.

Meta's response to allegations

In response to the media report, Meta stated that no moderation system is perfect but reiterated its “zero tolerance” policy towards CSAM. The company said that once it was alerted, it removed the offending advertisements, suspended the violating accounts, and blocked the associated URLs.

What CSEAM means

According to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) refers to any material containing sexual images in any form involving a child who is abused or sexually exploited.

Platform guidelines and user reporting

Social media platforms operate under their respective content policies and community guidelines. Users are also encouraged to report or flag content that appears inappropriate or in violation of these rules.

Government also raised concerns over WhatsApp username feature

On a separate note, a few days ago, representatives from Meta met with officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), following a government notice regarding plans to introduce the "username" feature on WhatsApp in India, ANI reported, citing sources.

According to ANI, sources stated that during the meeting, ministry officials apprised Meta of the government's concerns regarding this feature. Since the company has been given three days to provide a detailed explanation, Meta will submit its final response within the stipulated timeframe.

Earlier this week, the central government issued a notice to Meta, directing it to provide detailed information about the proposed "username" feature within three days. According to sources, the government has also directed Meta not to launch this feature in India until discussions regarding the matter are concluded. This move follows concerns regarding privacy and security associated with the feature, particularly regarding the potential for impersonation and misuse.

With ANI Inputs