Meta challenges UK online safety watchdog over how fees and fines are calculated
META•Meta challenged Ofcom’s method for calculating fees and potential fines under Britain’s Online Safety Act, arguing that using worldwide revenue is disproportionate. The law allows fines of up to 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue or £18 million, whichever is greater.
1. Meta contests Ofcom’s approach
Meta’s case in London’s High Court challenges Ofcom’s use of worldwide rather than UK revenue to calculate fees and maximum potential fines. Meta argued that the regulator exceeded its statutory powers by defining qualifying worldwide revenue broadly, and also challenged how Ofcom calculates fines when multiple providers under the same owner are jointly liable.
2. Regulator defends its method
Ofcom said its approach is proportionate and that worldwide revenue is used only to calculate the maximum potential penalty; any actual fine must be proportionate to the failure. Meta said fees and penalties should be based on services in the countries where they are regulated. The case follows a separate investigation into Instagram’s assessment of risks from its Instants feature before its May launch.
