Meta has defended its child safety measures after facing fresh scrutiny over reports that advertisements on Instagram allegedly promoted child sexual abuse material. The company says it remains committed to a zero-tolerance policy and is continuously strengthening its AI-powered systems to detect and remove harmful content.
Meta has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy against Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) after India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) sought an explanation over reports that Instagram displayed advertisements allegedly promoting or facilitating access to such illegal content.
The government’s notice followed a BBC investigation, which alleged that Instagram carried paid advertisements containing search terms linked to child sexual abuse. Some of those ads reportedly redirected users to external platforms where illegal material was allegedly being distributed.
The findings prompted Indian authorities to demand the immediate removal of the advertisements and request a detailed response from Meta within seven days. Responding to the allegations, Meta insisted that child safety remains one of its highest priorities. “We have a zero-tolerance policy for soliciting or sharing child sexual abuse material, including through ads,” a Meta spokesperson said.
The company explained that it relies heavily on artificial intelligence to detect harmful content across its platforms, which collectively serve more than 3.5 billion users worldwide. Meta acknowledged, however, that criminals continually attempt to bypass its detection systems. “We use advanced AI technology to proactively detect violating content and individuals, but we are in a constant battle with criminals who hide among our 3.5 billion users and try to evade our detection,” the spokesperson said.
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The company also stressed that its safety efforts extend beyond automated moderation. “Our expert teams are constantly working to improve our defences, develop new technology to root out predators, block links to violating websites, and share intelligence with other companies so they can take action too,” Meta added. According to Meta’s published safety policies, the company prohibits any content that sexually exploits or endangers children.
It also reports apparent cases of child sexual exploitation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and collaborates with law enforcement agencies and industry partners to combat online abuse. The Indian government is now examining how the advertisements were approved and whether Meta’s recommendation systems played a role in amplifying access to the illegal content.
Officials have warned that if the allegations are substantiated, the company could face legal consequences under India’s Information Technology Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The incident highlights the growing pressure on technology companies to strengthen content moderation as artificial intelligence increasingly shapes how information and advertisements are recommended to users.
Governments around the world have intensified scrutiny of major social media platforms, arguing that automated recommendation systems must do more to prevent the spread of harmful and illegal content. Meta maintains that protecting children remains a core part of its platform strategy. The company says it continues investing in artificial intelligence, specialised safety teams and cross-industry partnerships to detect abusive material before it reaches users, while improving systems designed to identify offenders and prevent them from exploiting its platforms.
The investigation in India is still ongoing, and authorities are expected to review Meta’s response before deciding whether further regulatory or legal action is necessary. As governments demand greater accountability from technology companies, the case underscores one of the industry’s biggest challenges. Building powerful AI systems is only part of the equation. Ensuring those systems can effectively prevent abuse and protect vulnerable users has become just as important.
About the Author
Marcel Chidozie is a tech analyst and writer covering foreign news, fintech, and emerging technologies at TechRegard. Based in Nigeria, He's passionate about translating complex tech developments into compelling, accessible stories for diverse audiences. His work focuses on how technology shapes innovation across Africa and globally.
