Delhi Police Files FIR Against Meta India Over Child Sexual Abuse Material on Its Platforms

Delhi Police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) concerning the alleged availability and circulation of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) on platforms operated by Meta India. The police action follows directions from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and comes after months of scrutiny over advertisements on Instagram that allegedly directed users towards illegal material hosted on external platforms.

The case adds to regulatory pressure on Meta in India, where authorities have questioned the company’s advertising review systems, content moderation practices and procedures for reporting suspected child exploitation. The investigation is linked to a complaint flagging approximately 10 URLs. While the FIR has been registered, the allegations remain under investigation and do not establish criminal liability on the part of Meta or any individual.

Delhi Police Registers FIR Under Information Technology Act

According to reports citing Delhi Police, the Special Cell registered FIR No. 236/2026 on October 8, 2026. The development became public on November 4 after NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo confirmed the police action in a post on X.

The FIR was registered under Sections 67 and 67B of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Section 67 deals with publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form. Section 67B specifically addresses material depicting children in sexually explicit acts, including its publication, transmission, creation, collection and distribution through electronic means.

The complaint reportedly flagged around 10 links suspected of being associated with the circulation of illegal material through Meta platforms. Police have initiated an investigation to examine the links and establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged activity.

The registration of an FIR allows investigators to examine relevant digital evidence and determine whether offences have occurred. It does not, by itself, establish that the company knowingly facilitated the circulation of illegal material.

The NHRC’s directions also called for scrutiny of whether Meta had fulfilled its legal obligations to report suspected child sexual abuse offences under applicable child-protection laws.

How the Controversy Started: BBC Investigation Into Instagram Advertisements

The investigation follows a BBC Eye report published on July 3, 2026, which raised concerns about paid advertisements appearing on Instagram in India.

The BBC investigation alleged that some advertisements promoted access to child sexual abuse material using seemingly explicit search terms and links to Telegram channels. The report said some advertisements directed users to external channels where illegal material was allegedly being offered for sale.

The findings raised questions about how such advertisements passed Meta’s review process and whether its systems were sufficiently equipped to detect content that directed users towards illegal activity outside its platforms.

The concern was not limited to the material displayed within an advertisement. Some advertisements allegedly acted as gateways to external websites or messaging channels, making it necessary to examine where links directed users rather than simply reviewing the visible content.

Following the investigation, the Indian government sought an explanation from Meta and directed the company to remove advertisements and content promoting or facilitating access to such material.

Meta said it had a zero-tolerance policy towards child sexual exploitation and that it was taking action against violating advertisements and accounts.

NHRC and NCPCR Increase Regulatory Scrutiny

The police investigation is part of a wider series of actions by Indian authorities.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) issued a notice to Meta on July 3, seeking an explanation about the alleged advertisements. Meta submitted a response, after which the commission initiated a formal inquiry to examine the matter.

The NCPCR subsequently summoned Meta India’s managing director and head for hearings, including one scheduled for September 16.

The NHRC also took up the allegations and directed Delhi Police to investigate. Its intervention focused on the availability of suspected child sexual exploitation material and whether appropriate action had been taken by the platform and relevant authorities.

The commissions have been examining different aspects of the issue. While the NCPCR’s inquiry is focused on child-rights concerns and Meta’s response, the NHRC’s directions led to the police investigation.

The regulatory attention reflects a broader question for social media companies: what responsibilities do platforms have when advertisements, accounts or links on their services allegedly facilitate access to illegal material hosted elsewhere?

Meta Introduces New AI Tools to Detect Harmful Advertisements

Meta has announced additional measures to strengthen its systems for identifying child exploitation content and advertisements that may direct users to illegal material outside its platforms.

In an October 7, 2026, company update, Meta said it had introduced new artificial intelligence tools to identify advertisements that appear harmless but may covertly direct users towards child sexual exploitation material.

One of the measures involves using large language models to detect what the company calls “signposting”. This refers to advertisements that may not visibly contain illegal material but are suspected of directing people towards harmful or unlawful activity elsewhere online.

Meta also said it was improving its ability to examine the destination of advertisements, rather than relying only on the content displayed within them. Other measures include additional automated scans, stronger detection of repeat offenders and AI-based testing of its own safety systems.

The company said it had expanded its investigation beyond the advertisements initially flagged, disabled accounts involved in violating activity and blocked links associated with illegal content.

These measures are particularly relevant to the allegations in India because the reported advertisements allegedly directed users to external Telegram channels.

Meta Reports Millions of Child Exploitation Content Removals

Meta has also published figures describing its enforcement activity.

According to the company’s October update, it took action against 5.3 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content on Facebook and Instagram in India between January and June 2026.

Meta said more than 98% of this material was detected and addressed proactively, before users reported it. Globally, the company reported taking action against 33.2 million pieces of such content on Facebook and Instagram during the same period, with more than 97% identified proactively.

These figures are based on Meta’s own enforcement reporting. They demonstrate the scale of content moderation activity claimed by the company, but they do not independently establish how much illegal material remains accessible or how effective its systems are at preventing every form of abuse.

The distinction is important because the current investigation concerns alleged gaps in the platform’s advertising and moderation processes, including content that may direct users to external services.

Meta Says It Will Report Child Safety Cases Directly to Indian Cybercrime Authorities

Meta has also announced a change in how it reports child safety matters in India.

The company said it would report such cases directly to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, operated by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).

I4C, which operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs, coordinates India’s response to cybercrime and supports law enforcement agencies through information-sharing, technology and investigation capabilities.

Meta said its reporting arrangements are intended to help authorities identify suspected offenders and take action. The company has also described its use of automated detection systems, image-matching technology and investigations into networks of accounts involved in child exploitation.

The change in reporting procedures is significant because timely reporting can help investigators preserve digital evidence, identify suspected offenders and coordinate action across platforms.

However, the latest FIR means authorities will also examine the specific allegations and evidence connected to the flagged links.

The Bigger Picture: India’s Platform Accountability Debate

The case highlights the growing regulatory expectations placed on social media companies operating in India. Platforms are no longer being questioned only about whether they remove illegal posts after users report them. Authorities are also examining advertising approvals, automated detection systems, external links and the speed at which suspected offences are reported.

For Meta, the challenge is particularly complex because its services operate at enormous scale and bad actors can change accounts, advertising methods and external destinations to avoid detection. AI-based moderation can improve the ability to identify suspicious patterns, but the effectiveness of those systems depends on how quickly they adapt to new tactics and how consistently enforcement is applied.

For Indian regulators, the investigation could help clarify how existing information technology and child-protection laws apply when illegal material is allegedly promoted or accessed through advertisements on a major digital platform. The outcome will depend on the evidence gathered and the findings of the relevant authorities.

Looking Ahead

Delhi Police’s investigation will focus on examining the flagged links, identifying the activity associated with them and determining whether provisions of the Information Technology Act have been violated. Authorities may also examine whether Meta fulfilled its reporting obligations under applicable child-protection laws. The FIR is an initial investigative step, and further findings will be needed before responsibility can be established.

For Meta, the case increases pressure to demonstrate that its advertising review, AI detection and reporting systems can prevent its platforms from being used to facilitate child exploitation. The company’s newly announced safeguards and direct reporting arrangements with Indian cybercrime authorities will face scrutiny as the investigation progresses. The wider issue is whether technology platforms can make their safety commitments effective enough to prevent harmful material from being promoted, circulated or accessed through their services.