Divya Arya

An investigation by BBC Eye discovered that Instagram approved and displayed paid ads in India promoting child sexual abuse content, directing users to Telegram channels selling illegal material. Despite initial refusals to remove reported ads, Meta later disabled some advertisements and suspended involved accounts after BBC inquiries. Telegram stated it had removed hundreds of thousands of related groups but continues facing criticism for insufficient enforcement. Experts, former Meta insiders and Indian officials expressed concern over platform algorithms and safety practices, while Meta denied prioritizing revenue over user protection and highlighted ongoing reporting and enforcement mechanisms. India remains one of the countries receiving the highest number of CSAM reports, with NGOs stressing the need for stronger international cooperation to combat organized criminal networks.