Meta Faces UK Ofcom Probe Over Instagram Instants Risk Assessments

Meta Platforms is facing a formal UK investigation over whether it adequately assessed illegal-content and child-safety risks before launching Instagram Instants, although the company says it conducted a risk analysis and briefed regulator Ofcom before release.
 

The investigation focuses on Instants, Instagram’s disappearing photo and video feature launched in May 2026, and whether Meta met its duties under the UK’s Online Safety Act before rolling it out.

TL;DR

 

• UK regulator Ofcom is investigating whether Meta adequately assessed illegal-content and child-safety risks before launching Instagram Instants.
• Meta says it conducted a risk analysis, briefed Ofcom before launch and built protections directly into the feature.
• Ofcom has not concluded that Meta breached the law, with its investigation now seeking to establish whether regulatory obligations were met.

Ofcom Investigates Meta Over Instagram Instants

UK communications regulator Ofcom opened a formal investigation into Meta on October 6, 2026, to determine whether the company complied with risk-assessment requirements under the Online Safety Act before launching Instagram Instants.

According to Ofcom, Meta launched Instants on May 13, 2026. The feature is available through Instagram Direct and lets users capture and share photos and videos that are designed to disappear after being viewed.

Source

Reuters reported that the investigation will examine whether Meta conducted “suitable and sufficient” assessments covering risks related to illegal content and potential risks to children before the feature was released.

Under Sections 9 and 11 of the Online Safety Act 2023, regulated user-to-user platforms must conduct risk assessments concerning illegal content and, where services are likely to be accessed by children, assess risks affecting younger users.

The law also requires providers to carry out further assessments before making significant changes to a service’s design or operation.

Ofcom stressed that its decision to open an investigation does not mean it has concluded Meta violated the law.

However, the regulator said that where compliance failures are established, it can impose penalties of up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is higher.

Meta Says It Assessed The Risks Before Launch

Meta disputes the suggestion that it failed to consider the risks associated with Instants.

“We conducted a risk analysis and briefed Ofcom about this feature on a number of occasions before launching it,” a Meta spokesperson told Reuters.

Meta also said Instants was built with protections including restrictions on screenshots, resharing and forwarding, no public feed, and protections for Teen Accounts that are enabled automatically.

“We will of course co-operate with Ofcom during this investigation,” the spokesperson added.

MLex similarly reported that Meta maintains it assessed risks associated with the feature before launch and is now under investigation over whether those assessments satisfied UK online-safety requirements.

Why Instagram Instants Is Under Scrutiny

Instants was introduced as a way for Instagram users to share spontaneous images with selected friends or mutual followers.

According to the BBC report, users can share Instants with Close Friends or accounts where both users follow each other. The content disappears after being viewed, while Meta says screenshots, reshares and forwarding are restricted.

 

The BBC also noted that disappearing messages and images have previously raised concerns around risks to younger users, while Ofcom's rules require platforms accessible by children to assess how product features could expose them to harmful material.

Ofcom Enforcement Director George Lusty said significant platform changes must be assessed before release.

“Our online safety laws are clear, significant changes to platforms must be risk assessed before they're launched,” Lusty said, adding that safety by design should be built into services rather than added afterwards.

Meta And Ofcom Are Already Fighting Over UK Online Safety Rules

The Instants investigation also arrives as Meta is challenging other aspects of Ofcom’s implementation of the Online Safety Act.

Reuters reported that Meta, TikTok and X are challenging the volume and scope of information Ofcom has demanded from them under the UK's online-safety regime. Meta is also disputing elements relating to regulatory fees and penalties.

The latest investigation therefore adds another regulatory front between Meta and the UK watchdog, although the Instants case remains at the investigative stage and no finding of non-compliance has been made.

Ofcom said it will publish further updates as the investigation progresses.