Meta runs ads with child sexual abuse imagery in India, study finds
The UK‑based company Meta has continued to publish paid advertisements that use artificial‑intelligence‑generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) across its Facebook and Instagram platforms, a study by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) announced on Tuesday. The report documents 332 adverts that appeared over the last ten months, with the majority (274) surfacing during August and a significant share (84) operating in India.
Meta’s own efforts to curb such content seem to have fallen short. After a 2024 BBC investigation that catalogued CSAM‑laden ads in India, the Indian government ordered the company to remove all offending adverts. Yet the TTP found 78 of the Indian ads posted after the directive, and further evidence indicates dozens of similar ads kept running until September.
TTP highlighted that many ads used real photos of minors – including a European royal family member – that were then altered by AI to depict graphic sexual acts. These images were often linked to “nudify” apps or other services designed to create non‑consensual nude material. In India, most of the offending messages promoted an app that could be used to view or trade such content for as little as 1 USD.
When the BBC reached out to Meta, the firm said it had “built strong defenses, including systems that block violating ads as well as ongoing monitoring.” It claimed that most flagged adverts were removed, rarely exceeded 200 impressions and cost under $5,000. However, the TTP’s data shows routine reporting failed to halt the ads; even after Meta’s own reporting system flagged 55 of the Indian ads, the company declined to remove many and, in some cases, defended them as compliant with policy.
The findings are prompting Indian child‑protection agencies to increase scrutiny. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the National Human Rights Commission are reportedly investigating the matter. Meanwhile, the Civil‑rights group Just Rights for Children has petitioned India’s Supreme Court to compel platforms to identify and report all CSAM promoters under local law.
TTP’s report points to broader industry issues. About 75% of the identified adverts directed users towards AI‑image or video generation apps, most from Chinese developers. Meta’s own “resellers” – advertising partners in China that handle billions of dollars in spend – appear to be enablers. The team was unable to elicit responses from these partners, raising concerns about cross‑border enforcement gaps.
Experts warn that the ease with which users can switch platforms complicates CSAM detection. Telangana cyber‑police officer Shikha Goel noted that the loss of a single unsafe account can be offset by a new one appearing elsewhere. Hence, she urged tighter cross‑platform collaboration and stricter regulatory oversight.
Meta has publicly committed to banning all “nudify” apps, but the continued presence of CSAM‑containing adverts suggests its moderation systems are not yet fully effective. The company maintains that “no system is perfect”, and that criminals persistently find new ways to exploit its advertising infrastructure.
The debate is now poised to intensify. Jurisdictional enforcement, reporting protocols, and the adequacy of AI‑driven moderation tools are being scrutinised, as civil‑society demands that social media giants hold a higher accountability for the safety of children in the digital age.
