Meta removes millions of child abuse posts and launches AI ad-screening tools

Meta announced that it acted on 5.3 million pieces of child sexual-exploitation content in India during the first half of 2026, with more than 98 % removed before any user complaint. Globally, the company removed 33.2 million similar items from Facebook and Instagram between January and June, detecting over 97 % proactively. Recognising that predators are now using ads that appear innocuous but lead to illegal material hosted elsewhere, Meta rolled out new AI tools, including a large-language-model system that identifies “signposting” in ad copy.

The platform also enhanced its ability to assess where an ad leads, added AI-driven scans for previously missed content, and employed a red-teaming AI agent to test its defenses. Accounts responsible for the offending ads were disabled and the off-platform links were blocked. Meta pledged to continue reporting child-safety cases directly to India’s I4C cybercrime portal following a recent notice from the IT ministry.