New Delhi: Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed ministry officials to summon Meta representatives following reports of Instagram advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material. Sources indicated on Friday that the government is seeking a comprehensive explanation from the social media conglomerate regarding these severe content moderation failures.
The directive marks the second major intervention by the Centre against the tech giant within a single week, signaling intensified regulatory scrutiny over public safety and digital security. On Wednesday, the government issued a formal notice to Meta questioning a planned username feature on WhatsApp, warning that it could significantly exacerbate cybercrimes such as online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks.
The IT Ministry previously ordered WhatsApp to pause the rollout of the username feature until extensive government consultations are completed satisfactorily. Furthermore, the Centre has demanded that Meta show cause as to why punitive action should not be initiated under the Information Technology Act and its corresponding rules for introducing features that potentially compromise user safety and elevate cyber risks.
