Controversial online forums 4chan and Kiwi Farms are taking legal action against the UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, in a US Federal Court. The legal complaint seeks to prevent Ofcom from enforcing the Online Safety Act against them in the US, arguing that US businesses without a UK presence are not subject to British legislation and that the Act violates US free speech protections. Lawyers representing 4chan have stated that Ofcom has provisionally decided to impose a fine for non-compliance with information requests. Ofcom alleges that 4chan has not complied with the act and is investigating its adherence to duties aimed at protecting users from illegal content.
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4chan’s legal representation has declared the online message board will not comply with fines imposed by the UK’s media regulator, Ofcom, under the Online Safety Act. The lawyer, Preston Byrne, stated that Ofcom’s notices hold no legal weight in the United States and viewed the investigation as harassment against US tech firms. 4chan, a US-incorporated company, asserts its protection under the First Amendment and will not pay the proposed £20,000 fine and subsequent daily penalties. They plan to seek relief in US federal court if necessary and have already briefed US authorities on their stance.
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Following the implementation of new UK online safety rules, major adult content websites like Pornhub and XVideos experienced a significant 47% drop in traffic, with OnlyFans also seeing a decline. Data suggests that while compliant sites saw a decrease, less regulated pornography sites experienced an increase in visits. The new rules, enforced by Ofcom, require age verification methods such as credit card checks and photo ID matching. Consequently, VPN app downloads surged, potentially enabling users to bypass these restrictions and access content from different locations.
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Under the Online Safety Act, all UK websites hosting pornographic content, including social media platforms, must implement robust age verification by July. This Ofcom mandate, prompted by research showing widespread underage exposure to online pornography, requires methods like photo ID or credit card checks. While some support the move as essential for safer online spaces, concerns remain that stricter verification will drive users to unregulated, potentially more harmful, online areas. The new rules also affect sites using AI to generate pornography, requiring immediate implementation of age checks.
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John Q. Hosedrinker