{
  "id": 12357376,
  "title": "Ofcom investigates Meta over Instagram Instants safety checks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/ofcom-investigates-meta-over-instagram-instants-safety-checks",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-06T10:15:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Business",
    "slug": "guardian-business",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/06/ofcom-investigates-meta-instagram-instants-safety-checks"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The UK's communications watchdog, Ofcom, is investigating whether Facebook's parent company, Meta, has complied with the Online Safety Act (OSA) by conducting adequate risk assessments for its new Instagram feature called \"Instants\". Instagram Instants is a Snapchat-style feature that allows users to send disappearing images.\n\nAccording to the source, the OSA requires social media companies to carry out risk assessments before implementing significant changes to their service's design or operation. Ofcom's director of enforcement, George Lusty, emphasized the importance of risk assessments in keeping tech platforms safe for users, comparing it to the safety checks conducted before launching a new car.\n\nMeta has stated that it conducted a risk analysis of Instants and engaged in discussions with Ofcom before launching the feature. The company claims that Instants includes protections such as blocking forwarding and adheres to the safeguards under its teen account settings, which are the default mode for under-18s on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger.\n\nThe Molly Rose Foundation, a charity established by the family of a teenager who took their own life after viewing harmful content on Instagram, has called for Meta to be held accountable for any failures under the Online Safety Act. Ofcom is already investigating Meta for potential breaches related to its WhatsApp platform, and the company is challenging Ofcom in court over various aspects of the OSA, including fees and classification as a new category of service.",
  "summary": "Watchdog examining whether company carried out adequate risk assessment as required by Online Safety Act Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta is under investigation for a potential breach of the UK’s digital safety laws after launching a Snapchat-style feature on Instagram. The UK’s communications watchdog, Ofcom, is investigating whether the $1.9tn (£1.4tn) company infringed the Online Safety Act (OSA) by…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CNA - Business",
        "title": "UK probes Meta over safety risks of Instagram Instants feature",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/uk-probes-meta-over-safety-risks-of-instagram-instants-feature",
        "published": "2026-10-06T07:58:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Technology",
        "title": "Ofcom investigates Meta over Instagram Instants safety checks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/ofcom-investigates-meta-over-instagram-instants-safety-checks-12358273",
        "published": "2026-10-06T10:15:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}