India rights commission questions Meta over videos allegedly using minors

India’s National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to Meta, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Etah district administration over alleged exploitation of minors in social-media videos. The commission acted on a complaint from Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation, which alleged that children, including those from vulnerable backgrounds, were scripted and coached to appear in videos containing abusive, derogatory and politically sensitive expressions. The videos were allegedly uploaded and circulated publicly to attract digital reach and engagement.

The complaint raised concerns about the children’s dignity, privacy, psychological welfare, parental consent and possible exploitation by adults controlling the content. The NHRC, in a notice issued by a bench headed by member Priyank Kanoongo, sought action-taken reports from the authorities within two weeks. The Etah senior superintendent of police was directed to identify the children, ensure their protection and counselling, and investigate those allegedly involved in scripting, recording, uploading and circulating the videos.

Police were also asked to register a first information report if a cognisable offence was disclosed and to preserve relevant digital evidence. The district magistrate was directed to arrange care, protection and rehabilitation through the Child Welfare Committee and District Child Protection Unit. Meta was asked to explain how the content was repeatedly uploaded and circulated, whether it generated monetary or commercial benefit, and what steps were taken to preserve evidence and address it.

The electronics ministry was directed to examine the platform’s due-diligence, child-safety and grievance-redressal systems. The notices do not establish the allegations, which remain subject to investigation.