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The Guardian
· collected 2026-10-06 · by Dan Milmo Global technology editor
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Ofcom, the UK's communications watchdog, is investigating Meta for potentially breaching digital safety laws with its new Instagram Instants feature, which resembles Snapchat. The investigation centers on whether Meta failed to conduct necessary risk assessments as required by the Online Safety Act before launching the disappearing photo feature. George Lusty from Ofcom emphasized the importance of thorough testing and warned that non-compliance could result in fines up to 10% of global revenue. Meta claims it conducted a risk analysis but faces ongoing legal challenges with Ofcom over compliance issues.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On October 6, Britain's communications regulator Ofcom launched an investigation into Meta Platforms (formerly known as Facebook) over its Instagram Instants feature, which was introduced in May. The inquiry focuses on whether Meta violated the UK’s Online Safety Act by failing to adequately assess risks related to illegal content and potential impacts on children before launching the disappearing messages feature. Instagram Instants allows users to share temporary posts that disappear after being viewed.
Ofcom is assessing if Meta conducted a "suitable and sufficient" risk analysis prior to introducing Instants, as mandated under the Online Safety Act. The regulator emphasizes that safety measures should be integrated into platform design from the outset rather than added later. Meta has countered by stating it took its regulatory obligations seriously and had communicated with Ofcom about Instants before launching.
The investigation comes amid broader concerns over user protection following tragic incidents like that of teenager Molly Russell, whose exposure to harmful content on Instagram led to her suicide. The Molly Rose Foundation, established in her memory, advocates for strict accountability under the Online Safety Act.
Written for “Meta Instagram Instants Safety Probe” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.45, but 1 quote(s) could not be found in the article and the other 2 are attributed speech rather than the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 59801: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-06
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.
asserted
Meta → launch → Instagram
The UK’s communications watchdog, Ofcom, is investigating whether the $1.9tn (£1.4tn) company infringed the Online Safety Act (OSA) by failing to carry out adequate checks on whether its Instagram Instants product could show illegal content or be accessed by children.
uncertain
product → investigate → children
Social media companies are required to carry out risk assessments before making significant changes to their service’s design or operation.
asserted
companies → require → design
Breaching the OSA carries a range of potential actions, from a formal warning to a fine of up to 10% of global revenue.
asserted
Breaching → breach → revenue
George Lusty, the director of enforcement at Ofcom, said risk assessments were a vital step in keeping tech platforms safe for users.
asserted
assessments → say → users
“You wouldn’t launch a new car without testing it properly, and it’s the same for online services,” he said.
asserted
he → launch → services
“Safety by design must be built in, not bolted on, and today’s investigation shows we’ll take action where we have concerns that providers are failing to comply.”
asserted
providers → build → concerns
Instagram’s Instants feature allows users to send images that disappear after viewing.
asserted
that → allow → images
The company said it had conducted a risk analysis of Instants and talked to Ofcom on a number of occasions before launching it.
asserted
it → say → it
It said the feature carried protections such as blocking forwarding and included all the safeguards under its teen account settings, the default mode for under-18s on Instagram, Facebook and Messenger.
asserted
feature → say → Instagram
“We will of course cooperate with Ofcom during this investigation,” a Meta spokesperson said.
asserted
spokesperson → cooperate → investigation
The Molly Rose Foundation, a charity established by the family of Molly Russell, a teenager who took her own life after viewing harmful content on Instagram, said it was crucial that Meta was “held to account for their failures under the Online Safety Act”.
asserted
Meta → establish → Act
Ofcom is already investigating whether Meta breached the law by failing to comply with a request for information related to its WhatsApp platform.
asserted
Meta → investigate → platform
Zuckerberg’s company is challenging Ofcom in court over the OSA.
asserted
company → challenge → OSA
It is suing the regulator in the high court over how it charges tech firms fees to cover its operating costs, and in a further case it is challenging Ofcom placing it in a new category under the act that subjects it to additional duties.
asserted
that → sue → duties
Meta has also joined TikTok and Elon Musk’s X in a court challenge over the amount information Ofcom is demanding they provide under the UK’s new online safety regime.
asserted
they → join → regime
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