The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a notice to Meta after reports alleged that paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) appeared on Instagram.
According to PTI, the ministry has asked the company to immediately disable all advertisements and content found to be promoting or facilitating access to such material. Meta has also been directed to submit a detailed explanation within seven days outlining how such advertisements were approved and displayed on its platform.
The action follows directions from Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, who asked ministry officials to investigate the matter. The reports have raised questions over the effectiveness of Meta's advertising review process and its content moderation systems.
This is the second time this week that Meta has come under the government's scrutiny. Earlier, the Centre sought clarification from the company over WhatsApp's proposed username feature, citing concerns that the functionality could increase the risk of impersonation, PTI reported.
The latest notice underscores the government's increasing focus on online platform accountability, particularly in cases involving user safety and illegal content. Meta has yet to publicly respond to the notice.
