Instagram has reportedly run advertisements that promote child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and adult pornography in India, with links directing users to content on the messaging app Telegram. A BBC investigation found approximately 30 unique ads promoting CSAM, and about 20 ads featuring adult pornography. Some of these ads were reportedly shared across multiple accounts.
The advertisements allegedly used terms such as "rape" and "child video," and linked to Telegram channels that sell explicit material. One ad depicted minors engaged in sexual acts, while another showed an adult with a minor and included a call to action to view more content on a linked Telegram channel. The BBC also reported an ad showing a young girl in tears, with wording suggesting sexual assault.
Despite being reported to Instagram, one of the ads featuring a minor was reportedly not removed, with the platform stating that it did not violate community standards. Instagram's parent company, Meta, later acknowledged that its review process is not perfect and may not detect all policy violations. Meta stated that it uses proactive detection technology for live ads and allows users to report content that breaks its rules. The company also indicated that it reports apparent child exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in compliance with legal requirements.
Both CSAM and adult pornography distribution are criminal offenses in India. Meta's policies prohibit ads from containing adult nudity, genitals, or content that sexually exploits or endangers children.
The BBC also reported two Telegram channels for selling CSAM videos to Indian authorities. While one channel was subsequently taken down for violating Telegram's terms of service, the other reportedly continued to post new videos for sale.
Critics have previously accused Telegram of insufficient measures to prevent the sharing of illegal content. Telegram stated that it employs both automated and human moderation to remove CSAM and claims to have significantly reduced its public spread on its platform. The company is not a member of NCMEC or the Internet Watch Foundation, organizations that collaborate with many online platforms to identify, report, and remove such material.