UK Watchdog Probes Meta Over Instagram Feature and Online Safety Compliance

Britain's communications regulator, Ofcom, announced on Tuesday that it has launched an investigation into Meta Platforms regarding potential breaches of the country's online safety regulations. The inquiry centers on allegations that the tech giant failed to properly evaluate the risks associated with Instagram's "Instants" feature prior to its rollout in May, raising urgent concerns over platform safety standards.

Regulators are examining whether Meta conducted sufficient risk assessments to protect users, particularly minors, before introducing the tool. Under the UK's Online Safety Act, platforms face strict legal duties to evaluate and mitigate hazards related to harmful content. "We are investigating whether Meta complied with its legal obligations prior to deploying the feature," an official regulatory notice stated, signaling heightened enforcement across major social media networks.

The probe reflects broader scrutiny by British authorities over how multinational tech firms handle user safety and internal governance. Instagram has faced persistent criticism worldwide from child welfare advocates and policymakers who argue that rapid feature updates often prioritize user engagement over baseline safeguards. Meta maintains that it invests heavily in automated detection systems and user protections across all its platforms.

If Ofcom concludes that Meta violated online safety legislation, the company could face substantial financial penalties, with fines reaching up to 10 percent of its global annual turnover. The investigation is expected to establish an important regulatory precedent for how tech platforms rollout new features under the United Kingdom's evolving digital safety framework in the coming months.