Meta Sues Ofcom Over Fines Regime for Online Safety Act Breaches

Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, has launched a legal challenge against Ofcom, the UK's media regulator, over the fees and fines regime it is enforcing under the Online Safety Act. The company claims that Ofcom's methodology for calculating charges is flawed and should not be based on a company's global revenue. The Online Safety Act allows for breaches to be punished by fines of up to 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue (QWR) or £18m – whichever is higher.

Meta argues that this approach is unfair and that charges should be calculated based on a company's revenue in the UK rather than globally. The legal challenge is a significant development in the implementation of the Online Safety Act, which aims to regulate online content and protect users from harm. Ofcom has been tasked with enforcing the new rules, which include requirements for social media companies to remove harmful content and protect users.

"We are committed to keeping people safe online and to supporting the implementation of the Online Safety Act," a Meta spokesperson said. "However, we believe that Ofcom's approach to fines is flawed and we are taking this issue to court to ensure that the regime is fair and proportionate." The lawsuit is likely to have significant implications for the regulation of online content in the UK and could potentially impact the way that other countries approach online safety legislation.