Company says AI is being used to detect abusive content as Government seeks detailed response within seven days

New Delhi: Meta has responded after receiving a strong notice from the Government of India over alleged child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and related advertisements circulating on its platforms. The company reiterated that it follows a “Zero Tolerance Policy” toward any content involving child sexual exploitation or abuse and takes strict action against such violations.

A Meta spokesperson said that whether the content appears as an advertisement or a regular post, any material found to involve child sexual abuse is removed immediately, and appropriate action is taken against the accounts involved.

Meta Says AI Helps Detect Illegal Content

According to Meta, the company uses advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to proactively detect and remove illegal content related to child sexual exploitation.

The company stated that dedicated safety teams continuously monitor suspicious activity across its platforms, which collectively serve more than 3.5 billion users worldwide, to identify and stop criminal misuse.

Government Issues Strong Warning

Earlier, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) directed Instagram to immediately remove all alleged CSAM-related content and advertisements from its platform.

The ministry has asked Meta to submit a detailed response within seven days, warning that failure to provide a satisfactory explanation could lead to legal action under the Information Technology Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

The government has also instructed Meta to review and improve its recommendation algorithms, which are alleged to have promoted such harmful content.

Issue Surfaced After BBC Investigation

The controversy gained attention following a BBC investigation, which alleged that advertisements promoting child sexual abuse-related content had appeared on Instagram and Facebook in violation of the platforms’ own advertising policies.

The report claimed that certain advertisements used explicit keywords to lure users, who were then allegedly redirected to Telegram channels where illegal content was reportedly being distributed or sold.

Government Seeks Accountability from Meta

The Indian government has sought answers from Meta on how such advertisements were approved and what concrete measures the company is taking to prevent similar incidents in the future.

According to government sources, Meta cannot simply distance itself by claiming that the content was uploaded by third parties. Since the company earns revenue from advertisements displayed on its platforms, authorities may hold it accountable if investigations establish violations of applicable laws.

Focus on Child Safety Online

Cybersecurity experts say social media companies have a critical responsibility to ensure the safety of children on digital platforms. They emphasize that effective content moderation, stronger AI-based detection systems, rapid enforcement, and greater transparency are essential to prevent the spread of illegal content and protect vulnerable users online.