Britain’s communications regulator has opened an investigation into whether Meta failed to properly assess safety risks before launching Instagram’s Instants feature.
Ofcom said on Tuesday, October 6, that it is examining whether Meta carried out adequate assessments of the risks of illegal content and potential harm to children before introducing Instants in May.
The feature allows users to share photos that disappear after being viewed. Meta says Instants includes several safeguards, including restrictions on screenshots, reshares and forwarding. Teen Account protections also apply automatically.
Meta said it had conducted a risk analysis and discussed the feature with Ofcom several times before its launch. The company said it would cooperate with the investigation.
The inquiry comes as British regulators take a tougher approach to online platforms under the Online Safety Act. Ofcom can impose fines of up to £18 million or 10% of a company’s qualifying worldwide revenue if it finds a breach.
The investigation could add to regulatory pressure on Meta as governments increasingly scrutinise how social media companies design and assess new features, particularly those used by children and teenagers.
Ofcom said its investigation will first focus on gathering evidence before determining whether Meta breached its legal obligations.
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