Britain's online safety regulator has opened an investigation into Meta Platforms, alleging the company failed to properly assess the risks associated with its Instagram Instants feature before its May launch. The feature allows content shared on Instagram to disappear after viewing. Meta is also involved in broader legal challenges against the regulator regarding the implementation of the Online Safety Act.
The investigation highlights ongoing regulatory scrutiny of major social media platforms regarding user safety and data handling, potentially leading to significant fines and stricter operational requirements for Meta in the UK.
Britain's online safety regulator has launched an investigation into Meta Platforms to determine if the company breached UK online safety laws by not adequately assessing the risks of its Instagram Instants feature prior to its launch in May. The feature allows users to share content that disappears after it has been viewed.
This investigation is part of a broader landscape of legal actions Meta is undertaking against the UK's media regulator, Ofcom. Meta, along with other social media companies like TikTok and X, has initiated legal challenges against the implementation of the Online Safety Act. These challenges often focus on the methodology for calculating fees and the extent of information required by the regulator. Meta has argued that these challenges are not against the law itself, but rather how Ofcom interprets and implements it, aiming to ensure proportionate and consistent application.
Ofcom, described by its director Oliver Griffiths as operating in a "highly litigious environment," is funding its online safety work through fees imposed on regulated service providers. Breaches of the Online Safety Act can lead to substantial fines, potentially reaching up to 10% of a company's qualifying worldwide revenue or £18 million, whichever is greater. The government has indicated a willingness to update legislation regularly to keep pace with rapid technological changes.
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