India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued a stern notice to Meta on Saturday over Child Sexual Exploitative & Abuse Material in paid advertisements on Instagram, according to Indian state broadcaster DD News. The government directed Instagram to immediately disable all advertisements and content promoting child abuse and sought a detailed explanation from Meta within seven days. The regulatory action followed a BBC investigation published Friday that revealed Instagram was running paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material in India, intensifying scrutiny of the U.S. social media giant in one of its largest markets.
Indian Government Directs Instagram to Disable Child Abuse Advertisements
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued the stern notice to Meta over the presence of Child Sexual Exploitative & Abuse Material in paid advertisements on Instagram, DD News reported. The government directed Instagram to immediately disable all advertisements and content that promote child abuse. Meta was required to provide a detailed explanation within seven days of the notice. Meta did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comments.
BBC Investigation Reveals Paid Ads Promoting Child Sexual Abuse Material
The regulatory warning to Meta came after a BBC investigation revealed on Friday that Instagram was running paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material in India. The investigation findings triggered the government's enforcement action against the platform.
India Represents Meta's Largest User Base for Instagram and Facebook
India has the largest audience base for Instagram, with more than 480 million users, more than double the U.S. as of 2025, according to data from Statista. The country also has more than 400 million Facebook users, the most globally. Neil Shah, vice president of research at Counterpoint Research, described the regulatory action as a "wake-up call for Meta to tighten its compliance and control for its platforms" as the Indian government is keen "to tighten the leash over these massive digital platforms." Reema Bhattacharya, head of Asia research at Verisk Maplecroft, told CNBC she would describe India as "a more demanding regulatory market rather than a hostile one." Given India's importance as a key digital market, she added that companies should expect regulators to engage more actively on "issues ranging from online safety to data governance."
WhatsApp Received Separate Government Warning Over Username Feature
Last week, Meta's messaging app WhatsApp, which has over half a million users in India, was issued a warning over the roll-out of its username feature. The government claimed the feature could increase cybercrime incidents and directed the platform to pause its plans. Meta defended the introduction of usernames, calling it a "major privacy feature" designed to help people stay connected without giving away phone numbers.
European Commission Found Meta Violated EU Child Protection Laws
Earlier this year, the European Commission found that Meta was violating EU law by failing to prevent children below 13 from accessing its platforms. Though Meta disagreed with the preliminary findings, the company could face fines of up to 6% of its total worldwide annual turnover if the findings are confirmed. The U.S. company is not facing an immediate risk of a fine in India, but has come under regulatory scrutiny in its biggest market.
FAQ
What action did the Indian government take against Instagram on Saturday?
India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued a stern notice to Meta over Child Sexual Exploitative & Abuse Material in paid advertisements on Instagram. The government directed Instagram to immediately disable all advertisements and content promoting child abuse and sought a detailed explanation from Meta within seven days.
Why did the Indian government issue the regulatory warning to Meta?
The regulatory action followed a BBC investigation published Friday that revealed Instagram was running paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material in India. The investigation findings triggered the government's enforcement action against the platform.
How large is Meta's user base in India?
India has the largest audience base for Instagram with more than 480 million users, more than double the U.S. as of 2025, according to Statista data. The country also has more than 400 million Facebook users, the most globally.
