NHRC flags over 50 CSEAM cases on Instagram
The poster urged greater public awareness to protect children, encouraging people to speak up, report abuse and support efforts preventing child exploitation.
- The NHRC received complaints concerning more than 50 CSEAM cases on Instagram in one week.
- Notices were issued to police chiefs in eight states and the national capital.
- The authorities were directed to register FIRs and take legal action.
- Meta was asked to review its practices and comply with Indian child-safety laws.
- The matter has also been referred to MeitY.
- The NHRC summoned the Delhi Police Commissioner over a delayed Action Taken Report.
- The report must be submitted by August 31 to avoid personal appearance on September 7.
- The Commission is examining platform accountability, advertising checks and content moderation.
- Citizens were urged to report abusive material immediately and never circulate it.
NHRC acts on Instagram child-safety complaints
New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has received complaints concerning more than 50 cases of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) on Instagram over the past week. The Commission has responded by issuing notices to several state police departments and Meta, the parent company of Instagram, seeking action under Indian law.
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo shared the information on social media and said the complaints involved the circulation of material that exploits children. He said notices had been issued to the police chiefs of Punjab, Delhi, Telangana, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Haryana and Bihar. The authorities have been directed to register First Information Reports and take appropriate legal action in the reported cases.
The NHRC has also asked Meta to review its practices and ensure that its systems comply with Indian laws concerning child safety and online content regulation. The matter has been brought to the attention of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, which is already examining concerns surrounding harmful content and platform accountability.
The Commission’s action highlights the growing challenge faced by families, law-enforcement agencies and technology companies. When abusive material appears online, every delay in reporting, removing or investigating it can expose children to further harm. The problem is not limited to the original content; it also includes the networks of accounts, advertisements and digital channels that may help circulate or monetise it.
Along with his statement, Kanoongo shared a public-awareness poster urging citizens to treat child protection as a collective responsibility. The message asked people to report such material immediately, speak up against online exploitation and help create greater awareness about the dangers children face on digital platforms.
The poster also encouraged citizens to support efforts aimed at preventing exploitation. Kanoongo said people could contact him directly if police authorities failed to act on complaints related to such content. The appeal underlines the importance of reporting, although citizens should avoid forwarding or downloading illegal material and should instead use official reporting and law-enforcement channels.
The latest action comes amid intensified scrutiny of Meta in India. On Wednesday, August 6, Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg reportedly apologised for child sexual abuse material, deepfake content and operational failures on the company’s platforms after senior executives met Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, IT Secretary S Krishnan and other officials.
The NHRC had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of media reports alleging that paid advertisements on Instagram used expressions such as “rape video” and “child video”. The advertisements were reportedly linked to Telegram channels where child sexual abuse material was allegedly being offered for sale. The allegations, if established, would raise serious questions about advertising checks, content moderation and the responsibility of digital platforms.
On July 8, the NHRC issued a notice to the Delhi Police Commissioner under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. It directed the police to submit an Action Taken Report within 15 days. When the report was not filed, the Commission issued a reminder on July 29, allowing a further seven days and warning that coercive powers could be used.
After the report still did not arrive, the Commission took a serious view of the delay and issued summons to the Delhi Police Commissioner. The Commissioner has been directed to appear personally before the NHRC on September 7 at 11.30 am at Manav Adhikar Bhawan in New Delhi, along with the required report and an explanation for the delay.
The personal appearance will not be required if the report is submitted by August 31. The summons also warned that failure to comply without a lawful excuse could lead to consequences under the relevant provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure.
The NHRC described the allegations as exceptionally grave because they involve the possible online sexual exploitation of children, circulation and monetisation of abusive material, and potential organised criminal activity through digital platforms. It also questioned whether intermediary due-diligence obligations, algorithmic moderation and child-safety systems were working effectively.
For parents, the issue is deeply personal. A platform that feels like an ordinary place for sharing photos and videos can also become dangerous when safeguards fail. The authorities’ response will now be judged not only by the notices issued, but by whether complaints lead to prompt investigations, removal of illegal material and meaningful protection for children.