Meta India Chief Summoned Over Instagram Ads Scandal

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has summoned Meta India's Managing Director to appear before it on September 9. This move is part of an inquiry into advertisements allegedly linked to Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) on Instagram.

The NCPCR took suo motu cognisance of a BBC Eye report and issued a notice to Meta Platforms Inc on July 3, seeking an explanation over the allegations. Meta responded a week after receiving the notice. After examining the company's response, the NCPCR launched a formal inquiry to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the matter.

The BBC Eye investigation alleged that Instagram had carried paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material in India. According to the report, advertisements seen by the BBC World Service contained terms such as 'rape video' and 'child video' and directed users to channels on messaging app Telegram, where such material could allegedly be purchased for as little as ₹99.

The report said advertisements on Instagram are published only after approval by the platform's moderation technology. When the BBC flagged one of the advertisements, Instagram reportedly responded a day later that the post did not violate its 'community guidelines'.

The NCPCR inquiry will examine the allegations as well as the adequacy of Meta's response to the Commission. The Commission's move is a significant step towards ensuring that social media platforms are held accountable for the content they host.

Separately, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Delhi Police to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations that paid Instagram advertisements promoted Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) in India. The NHRC has also asked the police to examine whether Meta and other entities concerned complied with mandatory reporting requirements under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The NHRC acted after taking note of BBC World Service reports alleging that Instagram advertisements used specific terms to redirect users to channels where such material was allegedly being sold. In a letter dated July 8, the NHRC directed the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, to submit a comprehensive Action Taken Report on the matter.

The proceedings followed a complaint dated July 6 that was placed before the Commission. The complaint highlighted the need for urgent action to be taken against social media platforms that host such content.

The incident has raised concerns about the effectiveness of social media platforms' content moderation policies. It has also highlighted the need for stricter regulations to be put in place to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.

The NCPCR and NHRC's actions are a step towards ensuring that social media platforms are held accountable for the content they host. The incident is a reminder of the need for constant vigilance and action to be taken against those who seek to exploit children.

In conclusion, the summoning of Meta India's Managing Director and the launch of an inquiry by the NCPCR are significant steps towards addressing the issue of child sexual abuse material on social media platforms. The incident highlights the need for stricter regulations and more effective content moderation policies to be put in place to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.