India Cracks Down on Meta, Blocks WhatsApp Feature

India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has ordered Meta Platforms to immediately remove all content and advertisements related to the sexual exploitation of children from its platforms, including Instagram, Bloomberg reported. According to anonymous sources, the American tech giant is expected to submit a detailed response to the government within the next week.

The move by Indian authorities follows a BBC investigation published on Friday that found some Instagram ads in India contained material depicting child abuse.

Meta has said it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward such content and stressed that its teams are working to improve safety. In addition to Instagram, WhatsApp is also facing pressure. The government has ordered it to postpone the rollout of a username reservation feature over concerns that it could increase online fraud and identity theft. India is Meta's largest market by user numbers.

The move reflects a wider global trend toward stricter regulation of social media. Last month, following Australia's lead, the United Kingdom announced a complete ban on the use of major platforms by children under the age of 16.

Malaysia is introducing similar restrictions, while Brazil will require accounts held by minors to be linked to a legal guardian.

(max)