Meta, TikTok and X Challenge Ofcom Data Demands Under Online Safety Act
The companies say Ofcom’s notices demand unprecedented, granular moderation data and create an excessive regulatory burden, Reuters reported.
- On Monday, Meta, TikTok, and X challenged British regulator Ofcom in court over information notices issued in February demanding detailed content-moderation metrics under the Online Safety Act.
- Ofcom issued the notices requesting data on post removals, visibility restrictions, and user exposure to harmful content, citing Parliament's mandate to regulate an industry unregulated for more than 20 years.
- X submitted a witness statement describing the directive as "the most burdensome information request X has received from any regulator in any jurisdiction," while Meta argued Ofcom demanded wide-ranging information across seven services without clear regulatory purpose.
- This week's hearing concludes on Wednesday, though Meta pursues a separate challenge over how Ofcom calculates fees and penalties expected to reach court next week.
- Ofcom can impose fines of up to 10% of global turnover or £18 million, whichever is higher, positioning this dispute as a critical test for enforcement powers under the Online Safety Act.
45 Articles
45 Articles
The "Instants" function, launched in May, allows sharing on the Instagram social network ephemeral content that disappears after being seen. The research aims to "determine whether Meta failed to comply with its obligations" by not carrying out, prior to the launch of that Instagram function, an adequate and sufficient assessment of the risks related to illegal content and potential dangers for minors, the statement says. "The significant change…
Meta court battle will not delay Instagram probe, Ofcom says
Meta’s legal challenge against Ofcom has not delayed the regulator’s separate investigation into Instagram, Ofcom has told City AM. The watchdog said the ongoing English High Court proceedings had “not impacted the timing” of its decision to investigate whether Meta broke UK online safety rules when it launched Instagram Instants. The comments come as Meta, [...]
For regulatory body, big tech did not properly assess the risks of illegal content
In "Instagram Instants" images disappear after first viewing – the British communications supervisor doubts that Meta has sufficiently examined the risks in advance.
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