The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India has placed Meta Platforms under urgent scrutiny, following complaints alleging that its social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, are facilitating the paid promotion of sexually explicit content.
NHRC Issues Seven-Day Deadline
The commission has issued a directive to Meta, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and Gurugram Police, demanding comprehensive action-taken reports within a strict seven-day timeframe. The NHRC emphasized that the matter requires “utmost urgency” and a swift response from all parties involved.
As part of its investigation, the NHRC has instructed Meta to provide a detailed account of several key aspects:
- Identification of accounts and advertisers allegedly involved in promoting the content.
- Complete payment records and proof of these promotions.
- Specific targeting parameters used for the alleged advertisements.
- Data on the potential reach of the promoted content.
- Information regarding human and automated safety checks conducted by Meta prior to allowing such promotions.
- A full explanation as to how the alleged adult material was permitted for promotion on its platforms.
Meta has also been ordered to meticulously preserve all relevant digital records pertinent to the ongoing inquiry.
Government and Police Involvement
Beyond Meta, the NHRC has tasked MeitY with examining whether the alleged use of Meta's promotional tools constitutes a violation of India's Information Technology (IT) Act. Concurrently, the Gurugram Police have been directed to launch their own investigation into the allegations. If any criminal offense is identified during their probe, the police are mandated to file a First Information Report (FIR).
Broader Scrutiny on Meta
This latest development adds to a series of recent challenges for Meta in India. The company has faced prior scrutiny from the Indian government regarding the circulation of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and, more recently, the temporary removal of a video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Facebook. These incidents have highlighted ongoing concerns about Meta’s content moderation systems and platform governance within the country.
Earlier, Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan, and his team engaged with MeitY officials, including IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, to discuss various content moderation and platform safety issues, including the handling of CSAM content and the controversial video removal.