Governments in India and Australia have intensified regulatory pressure on social media platforms, unveiling tougher measures aimed at protecting children online and holding technology companies accountable for harmful content.
In India, the government has issued a stern notice to Meta after reports that paid advertisements promoting or facilitating access to child sexual abuse material appeared on Instagram.
Authorities directed the company to immediately remove the offending advertisements and provide an explanation for how such content bypassed its moderation systems. The government warned that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward child sexual exploitation and expects social media platforms to strictly comply with Indian laws.
Meta has reiterated that it has “zero tolerance” for child sexual exploitation and said it removes such content whenever it is identified. However, the incident has renewed scrutiny of the company’s advertising review process in one of its largest global markets. Indian officials have indicated that failure to strengthen safeguards could attract further regulatory action.
Meanwhile, Australia is moving to strengthen enforcement of its landmark social media age restrictions by proposing to double the maximum fines imposed on platforms that fail to prevent users under 16 from accessing their services.
Under the proposed amendments, companies could face penalties of up to A$99 million if they fail to take reasonable steps to enforce the ban. The legislation would also expand the investigative powers of the country’s eSafety Commissioner, enabling the regulator to demand documents and other evidence from technology companies during compliance investigations.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticized delays in passing the amendments, arguing that stronger enforcement powers are necessary to ensure platforms comply with the law and preserve evidence during investigations. The proposed reforms are part of Australia’s broader effort to improve online safety for children and increase accountability among major technology firms.
