Ofcom Investigates Meta's Instagram Instants Over Child Safety and Illegal Content Risks
Ofcom, the media regulator in the U.K., has initiated a formal inquiry into whether Meta breached the Online Safety Act (OSA) by inadequately evaluating risks prior to the debut of Instagram's Instants feature in May. This feature, reminiscent of Snapchat, enables users to send disappearing photos to close friends or mutual followers, with images viewable once and lasting for 24 hours. Available on Instagram and as a separate app, the investigation will assess if Meta performed a "suitable and sufficient" risk evaluation regarding illegal content and potential dangers to children before the launch. George Lusty, Ofcom's Director of Enforcement, emphasized the necessity of risk assessments for significant platform changes. Meta asserts it adhered to regulations, having conducted a risk analysis and informed Ofcom multiple times before the feature's release.
Key facts
- Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into Meta over Instagram's Instants feature.
- The investigation will determine if Meta breached the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA).
- Instagram launched Instants in May, allowing disappearing photos viewable once and available for 24 hours.
- Instants is available both inside Instagram and as a standalone app.
- Ofcom questions whether Meta conducted a 'suitable and sufficient' risk assessment before launch.
- George Lusty, Director of Enforcement at Ofcom, emphasized that significant platform changes must be risk assessed pre-launch.
- Meta claims it conducted a risk analysis and briefed Ofcom multiple times before launching Instants.
- Meta says Instants includes protections like blocking screenshots, reshares, forwarding, no public feed, and Teen Account protections.
Entities
Institutions
- Ofcom
- Meta
- Reuters
Locations
- United Kingdom