The company stated that it had already deactivated multiple advertisements and the accounts responsible for them prior to the issues being raised. Further investigation resulted in the removal of additional ads, more accounts being disabled, and URLs linked to the content being blocked.
Meta also dismissed any claims that it intentionally targeted ads featuring children towards users with inappropriate interests in minors.
“It is categorically inaccurate to suggest that we’d knowingly and deliberately target ads featuring children to people based on an inappropriate interest in children,” the company asserted.
Furthermore, Meta indicated that it automatically removed over four million accounts globally last year that exhibited potentially suspicious activity related to minors.
What prompted Meta’s response?
The company’s statement follows a summons from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which requested an explanation after a BBC investigation.
Reports indicated that the investigation uncovered paid advertisements on Instagram promoting child sexual abuse material in India. These ads allegedly used search terms like “rape video” and “child video,” directing users to Telegram channels where the content was purportedly sold for ₹99.
The ministry has requested information on how these advertisements were able to pass Meta’s review process and what measures the company implements to screen paid content.
Also read: Instagram child safety controversy explained: What happened and why it matters
Ad review and enforcement
Meta detailed that all advertisements undergo both automated and manual reviews prior to being published and continue to be subject to review even after they are live. The company also noted that it evaluates advertisers’ business accounts and may impose restrictions if they breach advertising policies or community standards.
The policies of the company clearly prohibit child sexual exploitation, abuse, and nudity, which includes ads containing such material.
Over the past six months, Meta reported that its detection systems have led to the removal of 160,000 accounts in India for posting suspicious off-platform links related to child exploitation. Additionally, it reported cases of apparent child exploitation to law enforcement through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), with incidents relevant to India directed to the national cybercrime reporting portal in compliance with legal obligations.
