Meta under investigation over Instagram’s Instants feature: Here is why
Follow UsBritain’s communications regulator Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into Meta over its Instagram Instants feature.
Ofcom is examining whether Meta properly assessed the risks linked to illegal content and child safety before introducing the feature.
The feature, launched in May, allows users to share content that disappears after it has been viewed.
Britain’s communications regulator Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into Meta over its Instagram Instants feature. The feature, launched in May, allows users to share content that disappears after it has been viewed. Ofcom is examining whether Meta properly assessed the risks linked to illegal content and child safety before introducing the feature, according to a report by Reuters. The regulator said major changes to online platforms must be checked for safety risks before they are launched.
SurveyOfcom wants to find out whether Meta carried out a “suitable and sufficient” risk assessment before launching Instants, as per the report. The regulator is looking at two main areas. One is the possibility of illegal content being shared through the feature. The other is the potential impact on children.
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“Our online safety laws are clear – significant changes to platforms must be risk assessed before they’re launched,” George Lusty, Ofcom’s director of enforcement, was quoted as saying in the report.
He added that safety should be part of a platform’s design from the beginning, rather than added later. “Today’s investigation shows we’ll take action where we have concerns that providers are failing to comply,” he said.
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Meta emphasised that Instants has built-in protections. The company said the feature blocks screenshots, reshares and forwarding. It also does not have a public feed.
A Meta spokesperson said the company takes its duties under the Online Safety Act seriously. “We conducted a risk analysis and briefed Ofcom about this feature on a number of occasions before launching it,” a spokesperson said. “We will of course co-operate with Ofcom during this investigation.”
The Online Safety Act places safety duties on social media platforms, search engines and adult content services. Companies must assess risks and introduce measures to deal with harmful or illegal material. These measures include age verification.
If a company does not follow the rules, Ofcom can issue a fine of up to £18 million or 10 per cent of its qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is higher.
The investigation adds to existing tensions between Meta and Ofcom. Meta has already challenged some of Ofcom’s decisions in court, including rules about the information companies must provide and the fees charged by the regulator.
