The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) summoned Meta India’s managing director on September 9, 2026, over allegations that Instagram ran ads promoting child sexual abuse material (CSAM), following a BBC report revealing 332 such ads in India over 10 months.
A BBC investigation found that Meta platforms, including Instagram, ran 332 ads containing artificial intelligence-generated child sexual abuse imagery between August 2026 and the report’s publication, with 84 of these ads appearing in India. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had already initiated an inquiry after taking suo motu cognisance of the findings, leading to the summoning of Meta India’s managing director and head of public policy for a hearing on September 9.
Meta’s Response and Platform Policies
Meta stated in a public statement that it does not tolerate nudify apps or any kind of child exploitation, whether real or AI-generated. The company attributed the issue to criminals constantly shifting tactics to evade detection. However, the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) reported that 84 of the 332 ads identified in the BBC investigation ran in India, with 78 appearing after the Indian government ordered Meta to remove CSAM-related content in July 2026.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which Meta reports to under U.S. law, confirmed that the company complies with legal obligations to report suspected CSAM. However, Bhuwan Ribhu of Just Rights for Children criticized this as insufficient, arguing that Meta’s measures “are not enough” to address the scale of the problem. The organization has since filed a petition with India’s Supreme Court, urging mandatory reporting and identification of those promoting CSAM on social media platforms.
Government and Commission Actions
The NCPCR summoned Meta India’s officials after taking suo motu cognisance of the BBC report, following a notice issued on July 3, 2026, which required the company to provide an explanation. Meta submitted its response a week later, but the commission decided to launch a formal inquiry to assess the facts. The hearing, scheduled for September 9, will involve the NCPCR chairperson, Valeti Premchand, and include a representative from India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which has been monitoring Meta’s compliance with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also requested a detailed investigation into claims that Instagram ads promoted CSAM, directing the Delhi Police to examine whether Meta had fulfilled its reporting obligations under the POCSO Act. A July 8 letter from the NHRC to the Delhi Police Commissioner sought an Action Taken Report (ATR), with a follow-up on July 29. The NHRC’s inquiry followed reports that ads using terms like “rape video” and “child video” directed users to Telegram channels allegedly selling CSAM, according to the BBC.
Legal and Technical Implications
The NCPCR’s inquiry will focus on Meta’s compliance with Indian law, including its obligation to report CSAM under the POCSO Act. A senior NCPCR official noted that the commission would hear Meta’s side, understand the arguments it has presented in its report, and give the Meta India MD an opportunity to explain himself, adhering to principles of natural justice. The hearing may result in further clarifications or documentation, with the MD required to depose under oath, potentially leading to court proceedings.
MeitY has acknowledged Meta’s efforts to detect and remove CSAM, including improved filters and regional-language moderators. However, a senior official emphasized that we cannot say overnight that we are fully satisfied, highlighting ongoing concerns about the platform’s ability to prevent CSAM distribution. The ministry is also working with the NCPCR to draft a voluntary code of conduct for social media platforms, focusing on age-appropriate access, harmful content, and algorithmic transparency.
The NCPCR’s hearing on September 9 marks a critical step in determining Meta’s compliance with Indian law and its response to CSAM. Meanwhile, the BBC report and subsequent investigations underscore the challenges of combating AI-generated CSAM, which remains a global issue despite platform-level efforts.
Meta’s response to the allegations will be closely watched, particularly as the company faces scrutiny over its handling of CSAM and other harmful content. The outcome of the NCPCR’s inquiry could influence broader discussions about digital safety, platform responsibility, and the enforcement of child protection laws in India.
