Meta, TikTok and X dispute Ofcom's data request under UK's new online safety rules

Meta, TikTok and X have lodged a legal objection to Ofcom’s request for extensive data under Britain’s newly introduced online safety rules. The dispute marks one of the first challenges linked to the 2023 Online Safety Act, which aims to raise the bar for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X in shielding children from harmful or illegal material. Ofcom has been rolling out the framework gradually, warning that the most serious violations could attract fines equal to as much as ten percent of a company’s worldwide revenue. In February, the regulator sent information notices to the three firms, asking for granular moderation statistics – how many posts were taken down, how many had their reach limited, and how many users encountered unsafe content. The companies argue the demand places an unmatched regulatory load; a representative for X called it the toughest data request the platform has ever faced from any authority. Meta’s court filing says Ofcom seeks broad and detailed data about seven of its services without a clear regulatory target. TikTok claims the regulator bypassed a separate monitoring system that included specific safety safeguards. Ofcom counters that the information is essential to judge whether the new regime works and says it has already trimmed the data scope before the rules take effect. A spokesperson noted that Parliament has tasked Ofcom with overseeing an industry that has operated with little oversight for over two decades. The hearing ends on Wednesday, and a separate case by Meta concerning the calculation of fees and penalties is slated for next week.

Context

The Online Safety Act represents the UK’s first comprehensive legal effort to hold social media firms accountable for child‑focused safety, shifting responsibility from voluntary measures to statutory duties.