India: Meta accused of running AI‑generated child sexual abuse ads despite govt.'s ban, incl. co. comment
Meta Platforms Inc.
Meta has defended itself against allegations that its advertising platform continued to serve AI‑generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in India after a government order to remove such content. The company says it has robust detection systems that block violating ads and that it reports any suspected CSAM to the US‑based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). In response to the BBC investigation, Meta claimed it had already disabled several adverts, suspended the accounts that posted them, removed additional ads, and blocked URLs linked to the offending content. Meta also emphasised that its moderation relies heavily on automation and that no system is perfect, noting that determined criminals constantly adapt to evade detection. The firm reiterated that it does not tolerate nudify apps or any form of child exploitation, whether real or AI‑generated, and that it is continually strengthening enforcement. Despite these assurances, the Tech Transparency Project reported that hundreds of CSAM ads continued to run, many after the Indian government’s directive.