Meta challenges Ofcom over fees and potential fines under UK Online Safety Act

Meta Platforms has launched a legal challenge against the UK media regulator Ofcom over how fees and potential penalties will be calculated under the government’s 2023 Online Safety Act, the High Court in London heard on Thursday.

Ofcom’s framework calculates fees and penalties based on a service provider’s qualifying worldwide revenue. The regulator has said it intends to issue invoices for fees in the third quarter of 2026, most likely in September.

Under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom can fine companies up to 10% of qualifying global revenue and is required to recover the costs of running the regulatory regime through fees charged to service providers.

Meta argues that Ofcom’s methodology is disproportionate. The company says fees and penalties should be based on the services being regulated in the specific countries where they operate, rather than on global revenue.

Ofcom has said it is disappointed Meta is objecting to the basis for fees and any future penalties. If Meta succeeds, the case could require Ofcom to issue refunds.