India Rights Watchdog Seeks Reports Over Instagram Child-Safety Ads

India’s human rights watchdog has turned allegations about paid Instagram advertising tied to child sexual abuse material into a formal reporting demand for technology, media and police authorities.

ETTech reported that the National Human Rights Commission sought point-wise action reports from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Delhi Police.

The notice moves the issue from platform moderation into statutory procedure.

The commission acted through Section 12 of the 1993 human-rights law after reviewing BBC coverage and a notice seen by ET.

Its questions cover mandatory reporting, advertising screening, content controls, evidence preservation and whether platform functions can still be treated as passive intermediary activity.

MeitY must explain whether information about the alleged offences reached a Special Juvenile Police Unit or a local police station as required by POCSO’s Section 19.

If that step did not happen, the ministry must identify the responsible officer or authority and describe any response to the failure, including possible consequences under Section 21.

The regulatory question extends beyond a single takedown.

MeitY has also been asked to assess whether Meta’s role in creating, editing, curating, recommending, amplifying or monetising content could put the company inside MIB oversight for online curated content under India’s 2021 intermediary and digital-media ethics rules.

The MIB received a separate request to clarify how that framework applies when algorithmic or AI systems perform those functions.

Meta had not provided ET with comment on the notice.

The commission’s supplementary record relied on material from the Network for Access to Justice and Multidisciplinary Outreach Foundation, including screenshots that allegedly showed Meta tools proposing format templates, slide order, captions, prompts for user action, publishing times, engagement tactics and monetisation methods.

Those details shaped the commission’s broader concern: platforms that organise and commercialise the presentation of user content may face a different regulatory test from services that only host material.

The notice treats the alleged ads as a child-safety and law-enforcement matter rather than a routine objectionable-content dispute.

Delhi Police received two extra weeks for an updated report covering steps already taken and Telegram-related information requested or obtained.

The other authorities must respond within two weeks of receiving the notice.