The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will summon Meta, the parent company of Instagram, following reports that the social media platform ran advertisements allegedly promoting child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The minister has taken cognisance of the reports and issued directions to officials to seek a response from Meta, according to sources.
Allegations and Legal Framework
A media report claimed that Instagram hosted paid adverts with objectionable terms such as "rape video" and "child video", which linked to other social media channels where the content could be purchased. Distribution of pornography and child sexual abuse material is a criminal offence in India under its digital laws. Specifically, Section 67(B) of the Information Technology Act makes it a punishable offence to publish or transmit material depicting children in sexually explicit acts in electronic form.
Meta's Response
In its response to the report, Meta stated that it has disabled several adverts and suspended the accounts that posted them. The company emphasised that content on its platforms is governed by its content policy and community guidelines, and users can report or flag material they find inappropriate.
Definition of CSEAM
Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) refers to material containing sexual images in any form of a child who is abused or sexually exploited, according to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. The Indian government has been increasingly vigilant against such content, with the IT Ministry taking proactive steps to hold intermediaries accountable.
Government Action
The IT Ministry's decision to summon Meta underscores the government's commitment to enforcing digital laws and protecting children online. The ministry is expected to seek detailed explanations from Meta regarding the alleged advertisements and the measures taken to prevent such content. This development comes amid broader efforts to regulate social media platforms and ensure compliance with India's IT rules.
