Centre Cracks Down On Meta! Ashwini Vaishnaw Orders Instagram To Explain Alleged Child Abuse Ads
The Central government has intensified its scrutiny of Meta after Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw directed officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to summon the company over allegations that advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) appeared on Instagram.
According to sources, the ministry plans to seek a detailed explanation from Meta regarding how such content was allegedly able to pass through the platform's moderation systems. Officials are expected to ask the company to clarify the safeguards in place for detecting and preventing illegal and harmful advertisements, particularly those involving child safety.
The latest action adds to a series of regulatory interventions involving Meta this week. Earlier, the Centre questioned WhatsApp over its proposed username feature, expressing concerns that the new system could be exploited for phishing, impersonation, financial fraud and so-called digital arrest scams.
The government instructed WhatsApp to pause the rollout of the feature until consultations with authorities are completed and concerns related to user safety and cybersecurity are addressed.
Officials have also reminded Meta that platforms classified as Significant Social Media Intermediaries are required to comply with due diligence obligations under India's Information Technology Act and related rules. The government has reportedly sought an explanation as to why further legal proceedings should not be considered if compliance obligations are found to have been violated.
The twin actions against Instagram and WhatsApp signal a tougher regulatory approach by the Centre towards large technology platforms, with authorities placing greater emphasis on child protection, online safety, cybersecurity and accountability in India's rapidly expanding digital ecosystem.
