4Chan Faces £520,000 Fine for Online Safety Violations in the UK

The UK regulator Ofcom has fined the US messaging platform 4Chan a total of £520,000 for failing to comply with the Online Safety Act. The fine includes £450,000 for not implementing age checks to prevent children from accessing pornography. Additionally, 4Chan was fined £50,000 for not assessing the risk of illegal material and £20,000 for failing to outline user protection from criminal content. 4Chan's lawyer has publicly mocked the fine and stated that the platform operates legally under US law, citing First Amendment protections. Ofcom has emphasized the importance of age checks and risk assessments for online safety. The platform has a history of controversial content and has previously refused to pay fines. Ofcom has issued nearly £3 million in fines to various tech companies for similar breaches, but many remain unpaid. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between international regulations and US-based tech companies.

Key Points: • 4Chan fined £520,000 by Ofcom for online safety breaches. • The fines include £450,000 for failing to implement age checks. • 4Chan's lawyer ridiculed the fine, asserting First Amendment protections.