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Tech companies challenge UK Ofcom regulation

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2026-10-05 23:04 UTC → 2026-10-06 13:55 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Tech companies have begun legal challenges against the UK regulator Ofcom regarding the implementation of the Online Safety Act. Initially, Meta initiated legal action to contest the classification of WhatsApp and Instagram under the Act. The company is challenging the regulator’s decision to place these platforms into a category requiring stricter user controls, enhanced protections against fraudulent advertising, and increased transparency in content moderation. The dispute expanded as Meta, TikTok, and X filed challenges in a London court against Ofcom’s demands for detailed content moderation metrics. These demands include data on the volume of posts removed or restricted and the number of users exposed to harmful content. X characterized the request as “the most burdensome information request X has received from any regulator in any jurisdiction,” while Meta argued the regulator is seeking “wide-ranging and granular information” without a clearly defined purpose. TikTok further contended that Ofcom is bypassing existing monitoring regimes. Ofcom maintains that the data is necessary to assess the effectiveness of the new regulatory framework, noting that Parliament has tasked the regulator with overseeing an industry that has been “unregulated and unaccountable for more than 20 years.” In a recent development, Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into Meta’s Instagram ‘Instants’ feature. The regulator is examining whether Meta conducted “suitable and sufficient” risk assessments regarding illegal content and potential dangers to children prior to the feature’s launch in May. Meta has defended the feature, stating it implemented protections such as blocking screenshots and automatic Teen Account settings. Under the Online Safety Act, serious breaches can result in fines of up to 10% of a company’s global annual turnover.

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