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The ads reportedly linked users to channels on the messaging app Telegram where users could buy the alleged child sexual abuse material for as little as Rs 99.
Instagram logo displayed on a smartphone. (File photo: AFP)
A wave of widespread condemnation has followed, with the government issuing a notice to Meta platforms after an investigation by British broadcaster BBC found that Instagram had been running paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in India.
According to the BBC, the ads it said it had seen reportedly linked users to channels on the messaging app Telegram and claimed that users could buy the alleged child sexual abuse material for as little as Rs 99.
The report said the ads used terms including “rape video” and “child video” and directed users to Telegram, where the transactions were allegedly carried out.
“The ads use terms including “rape video” and “child video” and link users to channels on the messaging app Telegram, where they can buy the material for as little as 99 rupees (about $1),” the report stated.
What BBC Investigation Found?
During the investigation, the BBC created an alias account in India after noticing that Instagram was pushing sexually suggestive content even without any search activity. The account followed a small set of users posting lifestyle content that often featured sexualised undertones, including revealing clothing and innuendo.
Within a week, the account began receiving targeted advertisements “featuring women offering video calls and showing clearly naked couples having sex” and, later, ads that allegedly involved children in sexually suggestive situations with links directing users to Telegram channels.
The BBC noted that “in total, about 30 unique adverts appeared promoting child sexual abuse, although some of these were shared by multiple accounts.”
The report stated that in one instance, even after the BBC reported an ad showing a “very young girl in tears” with sexual assault implications, Instagram responded that it did not violate its community standards.
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