Ofcom opens investigation into Meta over Instagram Instants risk assessment
Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, has opened an investigation into whether Meta breached the Online Safety Act by not properly assessing risks before launching Instagram's Instants feature in May. Meta says it carried out a risk analysis and briefed Ofcom beforehand.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, said on 6 October 2026 that it has opened a formal investigation into whether Meta Platforms breached UK online safety laws by failing to properly assess the risks of Instagram's Instants feature before launching it in May. CNAN “Britain's communications regulator said on Tuesday it has opened an investigation into whether Meta Platforms breached UK online safety laws by failing to properly assess risks posed by its Instagram Instants feature before launching it in May.” Read at CNA ↗ BBC NewsN “Ofcom is investigating whether Meta breached its duties under the UK's online safety laws with the launch of its "Instants" feature on Instagram.” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1Instants lets users take and share an instant image with close friends that disappears once viewed; BBC News reports it can be seen by people chosen as "close friends" or those a user follows and is followed back by. BBC NewsN “The tool - allowing users to take and share an instant image with close friends, that disappears once viewed”“Images shared with Instants can be viewed by those who have been selected as "close friends" by a user, or those who they follow and are followed back by.” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 2Ofcom said the probe will examine whether Meta carried out "a suitable and sufficient illegal content risk assessment and children's risk assessment before the launch of Instants", which the Online Safety Act requires. BBC NewsN “"a suitable and sufficient illegal content risk assessment and children's risk assessment before the launch of Instants"” Read at BBC News ↗ CNAN “Ofcom said its formal investigation would establish if Meta carried out a "suitable and sufficient" assessments” Read at CNA ↗
Centre · 2Ofcom enforcement director George Lusty said: "Our online safety laws are clear – significant changes to platforms must be risk assessed before they're launched." He added that safety by design must be built in, not bolted on, and that the investigation shows Ofcom will act where it has concerns that providers are failing to comply. CNAN “"Our online safety laws are clear – significant changes to platforms must be risk assessed before they're launched."” Read at CNA ↗ BBC NewsN “"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," Lusty added.” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1A Meta spokesperson said the company takes its regulatory obligations under the Online Safety Act seriously, conducted a risk analysis and briefed Ofcom about the feature on a number of occasions before launch, and will co-operate with the investigation. BBC NewsN “"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."” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1Meta says Instants has built-in protections, including for younger users with Teen Accounts, such as preventing screenshots, reshares or forwarding. BBC News notes that disappearing messages and images have previously been singled out as posing particular risks for child or teen users of some apps. BBC NewsN “Meta says the feature has a range of built-in protections, including for younger users with Teen Accounts, including preventing screenshots, reshares or forwarding of Instants.”“But disappearing messages and images have been singled out previously as posing particular risks for child or teen users of some apps.” Read at BBC News ↗
Centre · 1Under the Act, platforms must carry out and update risk assessments covering illegal content and show how they stop children encountering harmful material, such as content on pornography, self-harm or suicide. BBC NewsN “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.” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1The investigation comes as Meta, TikTok and X are challenging Ofcom's enforcement of the Act by judicial review, arguing in court this week that they should not have to provide so much information in response to Ofcom's formal requests. Meta has separately argued that Ofcom should not be able to base fines on global annual revenue, and that its messaging and image-sharing apps should not face additional requirements such as tackling paid-for fraud ads. BBC NewsN “Ofcom's decision to launch an investigation into the platform comes as Meta, TikTok and X also seek to challenge the regulator's enforcement of the OSA through judicial review”“Meta has separately also argued Ofcom should not be able to levy fines for breaches based on its global annual revenue.” Read at BBC News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets report the investigation straight, leading with Ofcom's announcement and Lusty's quotes. BBC News adds Meta's response, the feature's protections and the wider court dispute between Meta and Ofcom.
- Emphasis
- Ofcom's statement on pre-launch risk assessment; BBC also stresses Meta's denial of inadequate preparation and the ongoing judicial review.
- Leaves out or plays down
- CNA gives no Meta response and no context on the judicial review; its description of Instants is brief. BBC does not say what penalties could follow.
- Charged language
- “safety by design must be built in, not bolted on”
Right1 outlet
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Ofcom opened an investigation on 6 October 2026 into whether Meta breached UK online safety law over Instagram Instants.
- The feature launched in May.
- The probe concerns whether suitable and sufficient illegal content and children's risk assessments were done before launch.
- Ofcom's enforcement director George Lusty said significant changes must be risk assessed before launch.
Ofcom organisation
Says Meta did not properly risk assess Instants before launch and that it will act where providers fail to comply.
“"Our online safety laws are clear – significant changes to platforms must be risk assessed before they're launched," said Ofcom enforcement director George Lusty.” — BBC News
Meta organisation
Says it conducted a risk analysis, briefed Ofcom several times before launch and will co-operate; separately contests Ofcom's enforcement powers in court.
“"We conducted a risk analysis and briefed Ofcom about this feature on a number of occasions before launching it," they said.” — BBC News
Instagram Instants product
Feature for sharing disappearing images with close friends, launched in May; Meta says it has protections for teens.
“Meta says the feature has a range of built-in protections, including for younger users with Teen Accounts” — BBC News
Centre3 articles
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CNAN ·
UK probes Meta over risk assessment of Instagram Instants
Neutral Concise report of Ofcom's announcement built around Lusty's statements.
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CNAN ·
UK probes Meta over safety risks of Instagram Instants feature
Neutral Short version of the same Ofcom announcement.
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Ofcom investigates Meta over Instagram Instants feature
Neutral Fuller report balancing Ofcom's case with Meta's response and placing the probe in the wider legal dispute over Ofcom's enforcement.
Right1 article
- 6 Oct 08:58 First CNAN UK probes Meta over safety risks of Instagram Instants feature
- 6 Oct 08:58 First CNAN UK probes Meta over risk assessment of Instagram Instants
- 6 Oct 10:04 +1h 5m BBC NewsN Ofcom investigates Meta over Instagram Instants feature
- 6 Oct 10:35 +1h 36m The Straits TimesRC Britain probes Meta over risk assessment of Instagram Instants via Reuters
- 6 Oct 11:15 +2h 17m The GuardianLC Ofcom investigates Meta over Instagram Instants safety checks
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.