Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has removed nearly 160,000 suspicious accounts in India as part of a major crackdown on child sexual exploitation content and related advertisements. The action comes after the Indian government’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) raised concerns over objectionable content and paid promotions allegedly linked to child exploitation on Instagram.
Following the notice, Meta was directed to remove the content immediately and explain the measures being taken to comply with India’s digital regulations. According to Meta, the accounts were identified using advanced artificial intelligence that detects suspicious links, harmful behavior, and networks associated with child exploitation. The company also strengthened its monitoring of advertisements and blocked URLs connected to such content.
Meta stated that it has removed 3.6 crore (36 million) pieces of violating content and emphasized that it does not intentionally promote such material. The company added that it had previously taken action against more than 4 million suspicious accounts using automated detection systems, reaffirming its commitment to making its platforms safer for users, especially children.
