Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Meta India Executives Face Renewed Inquiry Over Abuse Advertisements
India’s child-rights commission is investigating advertisements that allegedly promoted sexual abuse material involving children.
The investigation began after a BBC Eye report about advertisements on Instagram.
Meta India leaders appeared before the commission on September 16.
Reports differ on whether this was their second or third summons.
The government ordered Instagram to remove the advertisements and explain what happened.
Meta said it would send child-safety reports directly to India’s cybercrime authorities.
Another investigation concerns alleged abuse of toddlers at a Capgemini day-care centre in Bengaluru.
The commission is examining both cases to understand what happened and who may be responsible.
Meta India chief Arun Srinivas and other executives appeared before the NCPCR on September 16 over alleged CSEAM advertisements.
The inquiry followed a BBC Eye report alleging Instagram ads directed users to Telegram channels selling abusive videos.
MeitY ordered Instagram to disable the advertisements and provide an explanation, while Meta revised its reporting process.
Meta said it would report child-safety matters directly to India’s I4C cybercrime portal instead of primarily using NCMEC.
The NCPCR separately summoned a Capgemini vice president over alleged toddler abuse at a Bengaluru day-care centre.
- Who
- The NCPCR, Meta India executives including Arun Srinivas, Indian government authorities, and Capgemini officials are involved.
- What
- The NCPCR is investigating alleged CSEAM advertisements on Meta platforms and alleged abuse of toddlers at a Capgemini day-care centre.
- When
- The Meta appearance and Capgemini hearing were scheduled for September 16; the online-ad inquiry began in July, and the day-care arrests occurred that month.
- Where
- The advertisements were reported on Instagram and Facebook in India; the separate abuse case concerns Capgemini’s technology park in Brookefield, Bengaluru.
- Why
- Authorities are seeking to establish the facts, assess compliance with child-safety obligations, and determine possible responsibility.
Regulatory and Child-Safety Concerns
Platform Response and Cooperation
Accountability for harmful advertisements
Regulatory and Child-Safety Concerns
The NCPCR, MeitY and other authorities are investigating alleged CSEAM advertisements and pressing Meta to explain how they appeared on its platforms.
Platform Response and Cooperation
Meta said protecting children is a priority and that it is committed to working with the government to hold perpetrators responsible.
Reporting child-safety cases
Regulatory and Child-Safety Concerns
Government sources said direct reporting to Indian authorities is an important first step but that platforms must do much more to proactively identify and remove harmful content.
Platform Response and Cooperation
Meta agreed to report child-safety matters directly to the I4C cybercrime portal, creating a reporting route to Indian law enforcement.
Frequency of Meta summons
Regulatory and Child-Safety Concerns
One report described the September 16 appearance as the third summons for Meta India’s head.
Platform Response and Cooperation
Another report said top Meta India executives appeared for the second time in a week, following a September 9 summons.
- NCPCR hearing
- Meta India chief Arun Srinivas and other executives appeared before the NCPCR on September 16.
- Reported advertisements
- A BBC Eye investigation alleged that Instagram ads used terms such as “rape video” and “child video” to direct users to Telegram.
- Government response
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology ordered Instagram to disable the advertisements and provide an explanation.
- Meta reporting change
- Meta said it would report child-safety matters directly to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’s cybercrime portal.
- Earlier reporting route
- Meta had primarily routed child-safety reports through the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
- Other inquiry
- The NCPCR separately summoned a Capgemini vice president over alleged abuse at a Bengaluru day-care centre.
- Day-care allegations
- Two caregivers were arrested in July after allegations that toddlers were locked in bathrooms and kept inside washing machines.
