UK High Court backs Ofcom, rejects Meta, TikTok and X data‑request challenge

Meta, TikTok and X lost a High Court challenge against Ofcom’s data requests under Britain’s Online Safety Act. The court rejected their claim that the requests were disproportionate, clearing the way for Ofcom to keep gathering detailed moderation data. In February, Ofcom sent notices to the three platforms asking for numbers of posts removed, visibility‑restricted posts and users exposed to harmful content. The firms argued the demands were unprecedented; X said it was the most burdensome request it had ever received from any regulator and could cost millions of pounds. Meta’s spokesperson said the company was disappointed, adding that the scale of information‑gathering went beyond what is necessary or proportionate. TikTok said it was reviewing the judgment, while X did not immediately comment. Ofcom welcomed the ruling, stating that collecting information from companies is essential to its work. The decision is a boost for the regulator as it rolls out the Online Safety Act, which imposes tougher standards on platforms to protect children and threatens fines of up to 10% of global turnover for serious breaches. Meta also faces a separate High Court case over how Ofcom calculates fees and potential fines, and is challenging the categorisation of WhatsApp under the new regime.

Context

The Online Safety Act gives Ofcom powers to monitor how social media sites handle illegal or harmful material, a step toward tighter online regulation in the UK.