BBC Finds Instagram Ads Directed Users to Child Abuse Material on Telegram

3 articles · Updated · Hindustan Times · Jul 6

BBC Eye found paid Instagram ads in India steering users to Telegram channels selling child sexual abuse material, with Meta’s ad review system approving the ads before they ran.
One ad reported through Instagram’s own tool was initially judged not to violate community standards; Meta removed it only after BBC journalists sought official comment.
Meta called the issue horrific and said no system is perfect, but the investigation points to a broader failure in systems that match users with illegal networks rather than stopping them.
The findings add to earlier warnings: a 2023 former Instagram consultant told the US Senate that 13% of 13-to-15-year-olds had received unwanted sexual advances on the app in the previous week.
The report argues uneven moderation resources, especially outside English-language markets such as India, leave gaps that regulators may increasingly target with fines and executive liability.