Govt to summon Meta over Instagram ads allegedly promoting child sexual abuse material
PTC Web Desk: The Union government has directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to summon Meta and seek an explanation over reports that advertisements on Instagram allegedly promoted child sexual abuse material, according to government sources.
The directive was issued by Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who instructed officials to examine the matter and obtain a detailed response from the social media company. The ministry is expected to ask Meta to clarify how such advertisements appeared on the platform and what safeguards are in place to prevent the circulation or promotion of illegal content.
The latest development marks another instance of heightened regulatory scrutiny of Meta by the Centre. Officials indicated that the government views the issue seriously, given the legal and social implications of content related to child exploitation.
Earlier this week, the government also raised concerns over Meta's proposed username feature for WhatsApp. MeitY issued a notice asking the company to pause the rollout of the feature until consultations with the government are completed.
According to officials, the ministry believes the proposed change could increase the risk of online fraud, phishing attempts, impersonation and so-called "digital arrest" scams. The government also sought an explanation from Meta on why action should not be initiated under the Information Technology Act and the relevant intermediary rules.
The Centre reminded Meta that WhatsApp, as a significant social media intermediary, is required to comply with due diligence obligations under India's IT framework to ensure user safety and prevent misuse of its services.
- With inputs from agencies
