UK regulator Ofcom opened an investigation into Meta Platforms, assessing if the company failed to address the risks posed by its Instagram Instants offering before it launched.

The probe comes five months after the social media giant introduced Instants on Instagram, a feature where content is shared by users and disappears after it has been viewed once.

Ofcom explained it launched a formal investigation to establish if Meta failed to comply with its duties under the UK Online Safety Act by not conducting a suitable and sufficient illegal content risk assessment.

The regulator is also to assess if Meta completed a separate risk assessment for children before the launch.

Ofcom explained the UK Online Safety Act requires technology companies to assess and mitigate the risk of people encountering illegal content.

Platforms likely to be accessed by those under 18 years-old must also be assessed to mitigate the risk of exposure to certain types of harmful materials.

The regulator stated providers must update risk assessments before making any significant changes to the design or operation of their service.

George Lusty, director of enforcement at Ofcom, said its online safety laws are clear.

“This is a vital step that tech firms must take to protect their users. You wouldn’t launch a new car without testing it properly and it’s the same for online services.”

Ofcom will now gather evidence to determine if a breach has occurred.

In March, Ofcom warned technology companies they must apply minimum age rules with highly effective checks on their services or face possible enforcement action.

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UAE operator group e& reverted to its original branding of Etisalat, a name it stated reflects its heritage, strategy and ambitions for the AI era.

The company said it was making the name change to mark its 50^th anniversary, explaining the original Etisalat name means “connection” which has guided “what we build and the role we play”.

It rebranded from Etisalat to e& in February 2022, stating at the time the new identity was designed to reflect its ambitions to push from a traditional telecoms company into a global technology and investment conglomerate.

However, the company is now pushing for AI-led growth, launching numerous strategic projects to expand its digital infrastructure in the UAE and beyond.

For example, in July it struck a deal with cloud provider Cloud 42 to launch sovereign AI compute services for its home market, a move it said supports the country’s vision to build an AI-native economy and advance the national agentic AI agenda.

This was followed in September by a deal with Accenture to accelerate digital and AI-led transformation across government and enterprise sectors in the UAE.

In the telco space the company is putting a firm focus on its core business in the Middle East as part of a strategic shift which led to the sale its 16.2% stake in Vodafone Group to tycoon Xavier Niel.

On the rebrand, the company added that today, Etisalat “carries even greater significance as we bring connectivity, digital capabilities and infrastructure together to enable new opportunities”.

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