Ofcom investigates Meta over Instagram Instants feature

Ofcom is investigating whether Meta breached its duties under the UK's online safety laws with the launch of its "Instants" feature on Instagram.

The tool - allowing users to take and share an instant image with close friends, that disappears once viewed - was launched on Meta's photo-sharing app in May as "a new way to share photos in the moment".

But the regulator said the social media giant had not properly assessed risks posed by the feature prior to launching it - something it is required to do under the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA).

A Meta spokesperson said in a statement that it "takes its regulatory obligations under the Online Safety Act seriously".

"We conducted a risk analysis and briefed Ofcom about this feature on a number of occasions before launching it," they said.

"We will of course co-operate with Ofcom during this investigation."

Ofcom said its probe would examine whether Meta breached OSA duties by not carrying out "a suitable and sufficient illegal content risk assessment and children's risk assessment before the launch of Instants".

Under the UK's sweeping online safety rules, platforms including Meta must carry out and update risk assessments to comply with a range of duties, including to tackle illegal content.