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A BBC investigation has claimed that Instagram displayed paid ads linked to child sexual abuse material on a test account in India, alongside adult explicit content. The report said some ads directed users to Telegram channels. Meta said it removed flagged content and disabled accounts, calling the characterisation 'categorically inaccurate.'

Instagram has reportedly been running paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material to users in India. The probe found that ads directing users to purchase such content on messaging app Telegram were appearing on the platform despite Meta's own policies requiring every advertisement to be reviewed before publication. Meta has disputed the characterisation of its practices while confirming it took down some of the flagged content.

According to reportage by BBC, the investigation began after reporters noticed Instagram was surfacing sexually suggestive content on a test account even without the user searching for it. The BBC set up an alias account based in India and followed a set of accounts posting sexualised content to observe how the platform's advertising system responded.

Within a week, the account began receiving advertisements featuring explicit adult content. Days later, the investigation found, the platform began showing ads depicting children in sexually suggestive situations alongside adults, with links directing users to Telegram channels where the material could reportedly be purchased. BBC said around 30 unique advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material appeared over the course of the investigation, along with about 20 ads featuring adult pornography.

Instagram's initial response and Meta's follow-up