Meta Sues UK Regulator Ofcom Over Online Safety Act Duties
Meta has launched a legal challenge against Ofcom over rules placing WhatsApp and Instagram under additional regulatory duties.
Meta has filed a legal challenge against Britain's media regulator Ofcom, escalating a pattern of social media companies using the courts to resist implementation of the UK's Online Safety Act. Lawyers representing the Facebook parent company served notice of the appeal during the week, targeting Ofcom's decision to place WhatsApp and Instagram in a regulatory category that imposes heightened obligations on those platforms.
The move is the latest in a series of legal actions by major tech firms that critics say are designed to delay or dilute the landmark legislation. The Online Safety Act, which received royal assent in 2023, represents one of the most ambitious attempts by any government to regulate social media platforms and hold them accountable for harmful content.
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By challenging its categorization under the act, Meta is contesting the additional duties that would apply specifically to WhatsApp and Instagram — two of the most widely used platforms in the United Kingdom. The categorization system is central to how Ofcom applies differentiated levels of scrutiny and compliance requirements to platforms based on their reach and risk profile.
The legal offensive by Meta and other social media companies has drawn sharp criticism from regulators and online safety advocates, who argue the litigation strategy undermines the intent of parliament and delays protections for users. Ofcom has not publicly commented on the specifics of Meta's latest challenge.
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