British Regulators Open Inquiry Into Meta Over Instagram Child Safety Measures

British communications watchdog Ofcom has initiated a formal inquiry to establish whether Meta breached child protection rules when introducing an ephemeral messaging tool on Instagram.

The contested feature, known as Instants, debuted for United Kingdom accounts in May. Operating inside the platform direct messaging tab, the function lets people record and transmit photos or video clips that vanish after one viewing, while preventing recipients from taking screen captures.

Under British law, digital platforms that facilitate communication between users must carry out formal risk evaluations before launching new capabilities. These statutory assessments require companies to measure potential hazards related to child welfare and the circulation of prohibited material.

Ofcom is reviewing whether Meta fulfilled those legal duties prior to rolling out the feature across the country. Regulators want to determine whether adequate precautions were taken to protect younger audiences before the system went live.

If the watchdog determines that Meta neglected its obligations, the company could face significant financial sanctions. Ofcom possesses the statutory authority to levy penalties of up to £18 million or as much as 10 percent of qualifying worldwide turnover, which presents considerable exposure for a firm whose 2025 revenue exceeded $200 billion.

Meta maintains that it complied with domestic legal requirements throughout the development cycle. According to a spokesperson, the company completed a risk analysis and held multiple briefings with Ofcom regarding the feature prior to its public deployment.

The probe adds to existing regulatory friction between the watchdog and the California-based tech firm. Earlier this year, Ofcom started a separate inquiry focused on whether Meta met its statutory obligation to supply requested operational information to regulators.

The current case forms part of a wider effort by British authorities to police safety practices across digital networks. The regulator has active inquiries into other social services, including TikTok, X, and 4Chan, and previously concluded an investigation into Snap concerning how the company measured the likelihood of illicit activity on Snapchat.