Meta Challenges UK Online Safety Fee Rules

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is taking legal action against the UK media regulator Ofcom over how fees and penalties are calculated under the Online Safety Act.
The case was heard at London’s High Court on Thursday.
Meta is challenging Ofcom’s method of calculating charges, which is based on a company’s global revenue rather than only its revenue generated in the United Kingdom.
The company argues that using worldwide revenue to decide fees and possible fines is unfair and could lead to much higher financial penalties.
Under the Online Safety Act, technology companies are required to follow strict rules to protect users from harmful and illegal online content. Regulators like Ofcom are responsible for enforcing these rules and imposing penalties when companies fail to comply.
However, Meta believes that penalties should be based only on UK-related earnings, since the law is being enforced within the country.
Ofcom, on the other hand, uses global revenue figures to determine the scale of fines and regulatory fees, especially for large international tech companies.
The dispute highlights growing tensions between big tech firms and regulators in different countries over how online safety laws should be applied.
Meta’s legal challenge could have wider implications for how technology companies are regulated in the UK and potentially influence similar laws in other regions.
The High Court is expected to consider arguments from both sides before making a decision in the case.