Ofcom probes Meta over Instagram Instants safety compliance

UK communications regulator Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into Meta, examining whether the company skipped mandatory safety checks before rolling out Instagram Instants. The probe focuses on whether the social media giant followed the Online Safety Act, which requires firms to run risk assessments before making significant changes to their platforms.

The new feature lets users send images that disappear after being viewed. Meta says it already performed a risk analysis, spoke with Ofcom multiple times before the release, and added protections like blocking forwards and default teen account settings for users under 18. A company spokesperson said they will cooperate with regulators.

George Lusty, director of enforcement at Ofcom, emphasized that safety checks are non-negotiable. “You wouldn’t launch a new car without testing it properly, and it’s the same for online services,” he said. Breaching the law can trigger formal warnings or fines reaching 10% of a company's global revenue. The $1.9tn (£1.4tn) tech giant now faces potential penalties as regulators test the new digital safety regime.

The investigation adds to mounting pressure on Meta across the UK. Ofcom is simultaneously looking into the company's compliance with information requests for WhatsApp, while Meta challenges the regulator in court over fee structures and regulatory classification. Charities are demanding stricter oversight. The Molly Rose Foundation, established after the death of teenager Molly Russell, stated that platforms must be held to account for their failures under the Online Safety Act.