Instagram Faces Backlash Over Child Abuse Ad Promotions in India

Instagram has reportedly been running paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in India, according to a BBC News investigation. These ads contained terms like “child video” and “rape video,” directing users to Telegram, where such content could be purchased for as little as 99 rupees. Upon reporting one of the ads to Instagram, the platform responded within 24 hours, stating that the post did not breach its community guidelines.

However, after further inquiries by the BBC, Meta, Instagram’s parent company, addressed the issue, disabling several advertisements and suspending the responsible accounts. The company acknowledged that its review process may sometimes fail to flag guideline breaches, emphasizing the need for improved moderation systems.

Meta stated: “While determined criminals try to evade detection, our expert teams are constantly working to improve our defenses, developing new technology to root out predators, blocking links to violating websites, and sharing intelligence with other companies so they can take action too.”

The investigation also revealed that Instagram’s algorithm was promoting increasingly sexualized content, including ads featuring children in unacceptable situations. India’s top cyber police officer noted that both Instagram and Facebook generated the most tip reports but emphasized that this does not necessarily mean they are the largest sources.

Retired Indian Supreme Court Justice Madan Lokur expressed concern over Instagram profiting from criminal offenses, arguing that the platform has a significant responsibility to prevent such content from circulating. The disclosures come as Meta relies heavily on advertisements for revenue, which make up 98% of its $200 billion annual earnings. Critics argue that Instagram’s algorithm is designed to encourage the proliferation of extreme content to maintain user engagement, posing severe safety risks and ethical responsibilities for the company.