NHRC notice to Meta, MeitY, Etah district administration over alleged exploitation of minors

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday (September 28, 2026) issued notice to Meta, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Etah district administration over a complaint alleging that minor children were repeatedly scripted and used in objectionable and politically sensitive social media videos linked to an Instagram account stated to be operated from Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district.

NHRC bench, presided over by member Priyank Kanoongo, in its notice has cited a complaint from Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation alleging that children, including those from socially and economically vulnerable backgrounds, were being scripted, tutored, and repeatedly made to appear in videos containing abusive, derogatory and politically charged expressions, which were subsequently uploaded and circulated publicly for digital reach and engagement.

The complaint raised concerns over the children’s dignity, privacy, psychological well-being, informed parental consent and possible exploitation by adults controlling or facilitating the content.