Meta, TikTok and X Challenge Ofcom Data Demands Under Online Safety Act
The companies say Ofcom’s notices demand unprecedented, granular moderation data and impose burdens beyond European Union disclosure rules.
- On Monday, Meta, TikTok, and X challenged British regulator Ofcom in court over information notices demanding granular content-moderation metrics under the 2023 Online Safety Act, which the companies call an unprecedented regulatory burden.
- In February, Ofcom issued information notices requesting detailed metrics on post removal rates and user exposure, asserting the data is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the UK's new digital safety regime.
- Platforms argue the requests are operationally unmanageable, with X describing the directive as "the most burdensome information request X has received from any regulator," despite companies already providing similar disclosures under the EU's Digital Services Act.
- Separately, Ofcom announced on Tuesday it is investigating whether Meta breached safety duties by failing to properly assess risks associated with its Instagram Instants feature before launching the ephemeral photo-sharing tool in May.
- While current hearings conclude tomorrow, Ofcom maintains enforcement powers including fines up to 10% of global turnover, with a separate legal challenge from Meta regarding fee and penalty calculations expected next week.
35 Articles
35 Articles
In "Instagram Instants" images disappear after first viewing – the British communications supervisor doubts that Meta has sufficiently examined the risks in advance.
Ofcom has launched formal investigations against its parent company Meta for possible violations of the law at Instagram. The investigation revolves around "Instagram Instants", Ofcom announced on Tuesday.
The British Media Regulator Ofcom initiated an audit against Meta because of the launch of Instagram Instants' disappearing photo exchange function without a prior risk assessment. The UK Supervisory Authority intends to determine whether the corporation violated its obligations under the local Internet security law when introducing new tools. The audit is related to the absence of an analysis of the risks of the proliferation of illegal content…
UK probes Meta over risk assessment of Instagram Instants
Britain's communications regulator said on Tuesday it has opened an investigation into whether Meta Platforms breached UK online safety laws by failing to properly assess risks posed by its Instagram Instants feature before launching it in May.
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