Ofcom investigates Meta over Instagram Instants safety checks
UK regulator Ofcom has opened an investigation into Meta over Instagram Instants, a Snapchat-style feature launched on Instagram. The probe centers on whether Meta conducted adequate risk assessments under the Online Safety Act, particularly regarding children's access and potential exposure to illegal content.
Why this matters: The Online Safety Act exists precisely for moments like this. Before a company rolls out a feature that children might use, the law requires it to think seriously about what could go wrong. Meta apparently launched first. That puts real kids at potential risk before any safety check confirmed the product was ready for them. Ofcom has teeth here. If it finds a breach, this is a test of whether the OSA can actually change how platforms behave, or whether investigations just arrive too late to matter.
Who should care: Cybersecurity · Privacy officers · Administrators · Lawyers · Compliance
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