Meta reported taking action against 33.2 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content on Facebook and Instagram during the first half of 2026. Over 97% of this content was identified by internal systems before user reports. In India alone, the company addressed 5.3 million pieces of such content.
The company is deploying new AI tools to identify ads that appear harmless but redirect users to illegal material on external websites. A new large language model detects these signposting tactics, allowing Meta to block specific destinations and the accounts responsible for them.
Meta has introduced a red-teaming AI agent designed to test its own safety measures and identify potential vulnerabilities before they are exploited. Additionally, the company is enhancing systems to detect users who attempt to return to its platforms with new accounts after previous bans.
These updates follow a legal settlement in August, where Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion to resolve a lawsuit from 29 U.S. states regarding child safety. Throughout 2026, the company has also implemented various parental controls across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Meta AI.
