Meta Challenges Ofcom Over Online Safety Act Fine Calculations
Meta is challenging the UK regulator Ofcom in court, arguing that the calculation of fines under the Online Safety Act should be based on UK revenue rather than global turnover.
Meta has initiated a legal challenge against the UK communications regulator, Ofcom, regarding the calculation of fees and potential penalties under the Online Safety Act [The Register]. The dispute centers on whether these financial obligations should be based on global turnover or UK-specific revenue.
The Online Safety Act allows Ofcom to impose fines of up to 10 percent of a company's qualifying worldwide revenue, or £18 million, whichever is higher [The Register]. Meta argues that using global revenue as the basis for these calculations is fundamentally flawed, particularly given the scale of its worldwide earnings compared to its UK-specific operations.
The outcome of this legal challenge could have significant implications for how large technology companies are regulated in the UK. As the case proceeds, it highlights the ongoing tensions between global tech giants and national regulators regarding the enforcement of digital safety legislation.