Overview
- Ofcom opened a formal probe on Tuesday into whether Meta carried out “suitable and sufficient” illegal‑content and children’s risk assessments before Instagram Instants launched in May.
- Meta says it performed a risk analysis, briefed Ofcom several times before launch, and built technical safeguards such as blocking screenshots, reshares and forwarding, no public feed, and automatic Teen Account protections.
- The Online Safety Act requires companies to assess and update safety checks for major product changes and gives Ofcom the power to seek fines up to £18 million or 10 percent of qualifying worldwide revenue for breaches.
- Meta, TikTok and X are separately challenging Ofcom’s broad information notices in the High Court and Ofcom says those court proceedings did not affect the timing of the Instants investigation.
- The outcome will test how the law applies to ephemeral, disappearing‑content features and could change how platforms design and document safety measures to protect children and curb illegal content.