Social media: British authorities investigate Meta because of Instagram function

London. The investigation by the British communications regulator revolves around “Instagram Instants,” Ofcom announced on Tuesday. The images or videos shared via this disappear from the recipient's user account after being viewed once. The authority wants to determine whether Meta had “appropriately and sufficiently” examined the risk of disseminating illegal content via “instants” or dangers to minors before introducing this function.

“Our online safety laws are clear - significant changes to platforms must be risk assessed before they are introduced,” said George Lusty, Ofcom's enforcement officer. In the case of “Instagram Instants”, there is a suspicion that Meta has disregarded regulations.

A Meta spokesman emphasized that his company had carried out a risk assessment and informed Ofcom of the results. “Instants has built-in protections, including blocking screenshots, reposts, and forwards, as well as automatically enabled safeguards for youth accounts.”

Meta is at loggerheads with Ofcom over the implementation of the British Online Safety Act. The company is challenging, among other things, the amount of information it has to provide to the authority and the level of fees that Ofcom charges for its regulatory tasks.