Meta, TikTok and X Challenge Ofcom Data Demands Under Online Safety Act
The companies say Ofcom’s notices demand unprecedented, granular moderation data, while the regulator says the information is needed to judge whether the regime works.
- On Tuesday, British regulator Ofcom announced a formal investigation into whether Meta failed to properly assess risks for its Instagram Instants feature, while Meta, TikTok, and X simultaneously challenge Ofcom in court over data demands under the Online Safety Act.
- In February, Ofcom issued information notices requiring granular content-moderation metrics from the platforms; the companies argue these requests create "unprecedented regulatory burdens," with X describing the directive as "the most burdensome information request X has received" globally.
- While platforms already provide similar metrics under the European Union's Digital Services Act, Meta contends that Ofcom's granular data requirements lack sufficient regulatory justification and exceed international disclosure standards.
- Ofcom enforcement director George Lusty emphasized that significant platform updates must undergo rigorous risk assessments before launch, with the regulator holding authority to impose penalties of up to 10% of global turnover for serious breaches.
- The current court hearing concludes on Wednesday, but legal pressure persists as a separate challenge brought by Meta regarding how Ofcom calculates Online Safety Act bills is expected to reach court next week.
47 Articles
47 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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