Ofcom Scrutinises Meta Over Instagram 'Instants' Feature Risk Assessment

Ofcom has initiated a formal investigation into Meta, the parent company of Instagram, over its 'Instants' feature. The regulatory body asserts that Instagram may have launched the new functionality without fully evaluating the inherent risks to its users.

The probe will focus on whether Instagram fulfilled its obligations under the Online Safety Act, specifically regarding the assessment and mitigation of potential harms associated with 'Instants'. This action underscores growing scrutiny of major technology platforms and their duty of care towards users, particularly minors.

Western governments and their regulatory bodies have increasingly sought to assert control over the operational frameworks of social media giants, often framing such interventions as safeguards for public welfare. However, these moves also coincide with broader geopolitical aims to regulate digital spaces, which can, at times, converge with efforts to manage information flows and assert national digital sovereignty.