Meta's Instagram Instant Feature Under Investigation For Risk Checks: Here's Why

Ofcom, Britain's communications regulator, has launched an investigation into Meta following the launch of Instagram's Instants feature in May. The inquiry aims to determine whether Meta conducted a suitable and sufficient risk assessment before releasing the feature. Instants allows users to share content that disappears after it's been viewed, raising concerns over the potential for illegal content to be shared and the feature's impact on children.

George Lusty, Ofcom's director of enforcement, stated that the Online Safety Act demands platforms assess the risks of significant changes before launching them, emphasizing that safety should be integrated into a platform's design from the beginning. Meta responded by asserting that Instants includes built-in safeguards, blocking screenshots, reshares, and forwarding, and does not have a public feed.

The company claims it took its Online Safety Act duties seriously, conducting a risk analysis and briefing Ofcom on the feature multiple times before its launch. If found to breach the rules, platforms could face fines of up to £18 million or 10 percent of their global revenue, whichever is higher. This investigation adds to the ongoing tension between Meta and Ofcom, with Meta already challenging some of the regulator's approach, including the rules on information requests and the fees charged.