Meta has been running hundreds of paid advertisements that feature artificial‑intelligence‑generated child sexual abuse imagery, with a significant slice appearing in India, according to a new report from the US‑based Tech Transparency Project (TTP). The findings reveal that 332 such ads appeared on Facebook and Instagram over the last ten months, the bulk of them surfacing in August alone. Despite a recent Indian government order demanding the removal of all child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from Meta’s platforms, many of the ads continued to run after that directive.
Scale of the problem
TTP’s investigators say they uncovered 332 advertisements containing CSAM, of which 274 were deployed in August this year. About a quarter – 84 ads – were shown to users in India, and 78 of those Indian‑targeted spots were published after the authorities instructed Meta to scrub the content. The report notes that the ads often began with a genuine photograph of a child, which was then altered by AI to depict a graphic sexual act. In one example cited by TTP, a pre‑teen girl’s image was animated to perform a sex act while a voiceover claimed, “There are no restrictions. All the characters are real people and there are many options. This is the AI men actually use.” The BBC has not viewed the advertisement itself, but the description matches the pattern identified across the dataset.
India’s response and legal pressure
Following the BBC Eye investigation that first highlighted the issue, Indian regulators ordered Meta to eliminate all CSAM‑promoting material from its apps. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the National Human Rights Commission have since opened examinations into the matter. Activist Bhuwan Ribhu, founder of Just Rights for Children, criticised the company’s reliance on US‑based reporting mechanisms, arguing that Indian law requires direct notification to domestic authorities. “Social media companies are clearly flouting Indian laws by not reporting child sexual abuse content to Indian law enforcement agencies as mandated by our child protection laws,” Ribhu said. His organisation has filed a petition in India’s Supreme Court seeking compulsory reporting and identification of those who disseminate CSAM on social platforms.
How the ads work and where they lead
According to TTP, the vast majority of the flagged advertisements directed users to AI image‑ or video‑generation tools, many of which originate from Chinese developers. By advertising these services with CSAM‑themed visuals, the ads imply that the software can be used to create or view abusive content. Some of the ads also funneled viewers to the messaging app Telegram, where the illicit material could be purchased for as little as 99 rupees (approximately £0.80). Telegram told the BBC that it employs both automated and human moderation to curb CSAM and claims to have “virtually eliminated the public spread” of such content on its service.
Meta’s defence and ongoing challenges
When approached for comment, Meta reiterated its zero‑tolerance stance on nudify apps and any form of child exploitation, whether real or AI‑generated. The company said it reports suspected violations to the US‑based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in line with legal obligations. Meta’s spokesperson added that its defenses include systems that block offending ads and continuous monitoring, noting that many of the flagged advertisements had already been removed, garnered fewer than 200 impressions each, and represented a total spend under $5,000.
Nevertheless, TTP reported that when it used Meta’s own reporting tools to flag the Indian ads, 55 submissions were processed, with 43 receiving a reply that the content did not breach advertising standards, 11 being told the material had already been taken down, and one awaiting a response. The research group said that after sharing its findings with Meta, all the reported ads were subsequently removed.
The report also highlights that several of the offending advertisements were placed through Meta’s Chinese ad‑agency partners, often described as “resellers,” who channel billions of dollars of Chinese advertising onto Facebook and Instagram. Those partners did not respond to TTP’s inquiries.
Why it Matters
The persistence of AI‑generated child abuse ads on Meta’s platforms underscores a stark gap between corporate safety pledges and the reality of how exploitative content can slip through automated moderation, especially when bad actors reshape their tactics to evade detection. For India, where legal frameworks demand swift reporting to domestic authorities, the continued circulation of such material not only endangers vulnerable children but also challenges the nation’s ability to enforce its own cyber‑safety laws. As pressure mounts from regulators, activists, and international watchdogs, the episode serves as a urgent reminder that robust, transparent, and locally accountable safeguards are essential to protect minors in an increasingly AI‑driven advertising landscape.