Social media and tech giant Meta has brought a legal challenge against Ofcom, the UK’s communications and media regulator, over its method for calculating fees and fines around online safety.
The company argued in the UK’s High Court on Thursday that the powers Ofcom was provided by the Online Safety Act, which came into force in July 2025, are unlawful.
The bill imposed requirements on tech companies to quickly remove illegal content from their platforms and to apply age restrictions to pornography and other adult content.
If they are found in breach, Ofcom has the ability to fine companies up to 10 per cent of their qualifying worldwide revenue, or £18 million, whichever is greater.
Lawyers for Meta claimed in court documents that this is “troubling”, leading to “a handful of companies, such as Meta, bearing the vast majority of Ofcom’s costs, despite the act making clear that it is concerned with a wide range of internet services offered in the UK”.
The company instead wishes to see fines calculated based on in-country revenue, which it said would still allow Ofcom to impose “the largest fines in UK corporate history”, according to a spokesperson.
In response, Ofcom said that it will “robustly defend” its reasoning and position. A spokesperson added that its definition of qualifying worldwide revenue was based on a “plain reading of the law.
“Disappointingly, Meta are objecting to the payment of fees, and any penalties that could be levied on companies in future, that are calculated on this basis,” they added.
A full hearing is scheduled for October.
