Facebook was already pushing out long video ads on Indian TV, even before this fiasco. Indian consumers are seemingly more valuable; there are a significant number of users who use WhatsApp for business (customer support & sales). WhatsApp has also started a mobile payments platform in the country.

They (Facebook) have done this before too. I recall that they bought full-page ads in all major newspapers to promote their "Free Basics" initiative.

There are also other examples, but I consider this level of advertising by them to be very desperate.