Government Issues Fresh Notice to Meta; Summons Company Over Objectionable Instagram Ads

The government has once again issued a notice to the social media company Meta. This marks the second time in three days that Mark Zuckerberg’s company has received a notice from the Indian government. Previously, an explanation was sought regarding a WhatsApp username feature. Now, the government has summoned the social media platform over certain objectionable ads shared on Instagram.

According to government sources, ads containing objectionable content related to children (CSAM) were shared on Meta’s platform, Instagram. Consequently, the government has summoned Meta officials.

Government Seeks Clarification

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed MeitY officials to seek an explanation from Meta regarding these objectionable ads on Instagram and to inquire how they were approved and circulated on the platform.

MeitY officials have asked the platform how ads containing objectionable content involving children were approved for upload on Instagram. A response has been sought from Mark Zuckerberg’s company, questioning why Meta’s detection and prevention systems failed to stop this.

Meta Removes Objectionable Ads

According to reports, Meta has removed these objectionable ads from Instagram. The company states that it treats objectionable content involving children as a serious violation. It employs artificial intelligence and automated detection systems, alongside a dedicated review team, to address this issue. Furthermore, the company has partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Previous Notices Issued

The government had also recently issued a notice to Meta regarding a new username feature on WhatsApp. The platform recently rolled out this feature, allowing users to reserve a username or user ID for themselves. The government has questioned Meta regarding this, noting that the feature could facilitate cyber fraud, identity theft, and “digital arrest” scams. However, the company maintains that the feature is being rolled out with user privacy in mind and has implemented various security measures.