Instagram Child Abuse Ads: NCPCR Summons Meta India Chief Again

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has summoned Meta India's managing director and head again in connection with allegations that advertisements linked to child s*xual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM) appeared on Instagram. The fresh summons comes as the commission continues its inquiry into the platform's handling of such content.

The latest hearing is scheduled for September 16, 2026, with the NCPCR seeking further information from Meta India as part of its ongoing proceedings. The commission is also examining a separate child-safety matter involving a Bengaluru daycare centre. Child S*xual Abuse Material on Meta: NHRC Escalates Probe Into Instagram, Issues Notices.

NCPCR’s Inquiry Into Instagram Ads

The NCPCR began examining the issue after taking suo motu cognisance of a BBC Eye investigation that reported advertisements on Instagram allegedly promoting access to child s*xual abuse material. The child rights body issued a notice to Meta Platforms on July 3, seeking an explanation from the company. Meta submitted its response about a week later. After reviewing the response, the commission decided to institute a formal inquiry and summoned senior Meta India executives for a hearing on September 9.

Meta India executives appeared before the commission on September 9 as part of the investigation. The latest summons indicates that the NCPCR is seeking further clarification as the inquiry progresses.

Government Had Earlier Sought Action From Meta

The matter has also drawn the attention of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). In July, the ministry directed Instagram to disable advertisements and other content promoting or facilitating access to CSEAM and sought a detailed explanation from Meta. The allegations have raised questions about Meta's advertising review and content-moderation systems, particularly how harmful material could allegedly be promoted through paid advertisements on Instagram. Instagram Unskippable Ads: Meta-Owned Platform Testing New Feature That Will Stop Users From Scrolling Until They Watch Ad.

Meta Agrees To Direct Reporting In India

The latest development comes alongside a separate move by Meta concerning the reporting of child-safety cases in India. According to government sources, Meta has agreed to report identified cases involving child abuse directly to appropriate Indian law-enforcement agencies. The move is expected to give Indian authorities faster access to information needed for investigations. The government has described the step as an important beginning but indicated that further measures are needed to strengthen child safety online.

NCPCR Probe Continues

The repeated summons underline that the NCPCR's inquiry into the Instagram advertisements remains active. The commission is examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged advertisements and Meta's response to the concerns raised by Indian authorities. The proceedings will also be watched closely as India continues to push social-media companies to strengthen safeguards against illegal and harmful content involving children.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 15, 2026 11:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).