Key Points
- The UK has fined the U.S. internet forum 4chan £20,000. This is the first fine issued under the UK’s new Online Safety Act.
- 4chan was fined for failing to provide a risk assessment for illegal content.
- The fine will increase daily, and the site could eventually be blocked in the UK.
- 4chan is already suing the UK regulator in the U.S., claiming the law violates free speech.
The UK has issued its first-ever fine under its tough new Online Safety Act, hitting the notorious U.S. internet forum 4chan with a £20,000 ($26,644) penalty. The media regulator, Ofcom, said the company had repeatedly failed to provide information about how it is handling the risk of illegal content on its platform.
This is the first time the UK has used its new powers to punish a tech company, and it’s a clear signal that the government is serious about enforcing the controversial law.
The Online Safety Act is designed to protect children and vulnerable users from illegal content online. Still, it has been heavily criticized by U.S. tech companies and free speech advocates who say it goes too far.
Ofcom said that 4chan had ignored two separate requests for its “illegal harms risk assessment,” a key requirement under the new rules. The regulator warned that any company that “flagrantly fails to engage” with the law should expect to face penalties.
The fine is just the beginning. Ofcom said it will increase by £100 a day if 4chan continues to ignore the request. And if the company still refuses to comply, the regulator has the power to order UK internet service providers to block access to the site.
This is all part of a larger, ongoing battle. 4chan has already filed a lawsuit in the U.S. against Ofcom, arguing that the UK’s law violates Americans’ right to free speech.
