IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed officials in the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) to summon Meta over Instagram advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material (CSAM), sources said on Friday, according to news agency PTI.According to the sources, the ministry will seek an explanation from Meta over the issue and ask the company to clarify how such advertisements appeared on the platform.
Second government action against Meta this week
This is the second time this week that the Centre has taken action involving Meta.On Wednesday, the government issued a notice to Meta over WhatsApp’s proposed username feature, raising concerns that it could significantly increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams and impersonation attacks.The Centre directed WhatsApp to pause the rollout of the feature until consultations on the issue are completed “to the satisfaction of the Government”.The government also asked Meta to explain why action should not be initiated under the Information Technology Act and related rules over the proposed feature, which it said could increase cybercrime risks.In addition, the Centre reminded Meta that WhatsApp, as a significant social media intermediary, is required to comply with due diligence obligations under the IT Act and its associated rules.
