Controversial imageboard 4chan is resisting fines imposed by UK regulator Ofcom for violating the recently enacted Online Safety Act, which aims to protect children from harmful online content. The platform’s legal team is appealing to the Trump administration to intervene, citing concerns over “extraterritorial censorship” and First Amendment protections.
The UK law requires users to provide official identification and selfies to access adult content, and Ofcom threatened 4chan with a £20,000 initial fine followed by daily penalties for noncompliance. U.S. legal experts argue that 4chan’s incorporation in the United States shields it from UK enforcement. The dispute highlights growing tensions between international regulatory frameworks and U.S.-based tech companies, raising questions about cross-border digital governance and freedom of expression.
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4chan Refuses UK Fines, Seeks U.S. Protection
Controversial imageboard 4chan is refusing to pay fines imposed by UK regulator Ofcom for violating the country’s sweeping Online Safety Act, which came into effect last month. Its legal team is calling on the Trump administration to help shield the platform from what it calls “extraterritorial censorship.”
The Online Safety Act and Its Requirements
The Online Safety Act is designed to protect children from harmful content online—such as pornography or material promoting self-harm—by requiring users to submit official ID and selfies to access adult content.
Earlier this month, Ofcom launched an investigation after 4chan failed to comply with information requests. According to the BBC, the regulator planned an initial fine of £20,000, followed by daily penalties until compliance.
U.S. Legal Team Pushes Back
Preston Byrne, managing partner at law firm Byrne & Storm, told BBC News that Ofcom’s notices “create no legal obligations in the United States” and called its investigation an “illegal campaign of harassment” against U.S. tech firms.
“4chan has broken no laws in the United States—my client will not pay any penalty,” Byrne said. The law firm emphasized on X that, as a U.S.-incorporated company, 4chan is protected by First Amendment rights. It added that the platform would seek “appropriate relief” in U.S. federal court if necessary, and that U.S. authorities had already been briefed on the situation.
“We call on the Trump administration to invoke all diplomatic and legal levers available to protect American companies from extraterritorial censorship mandates,” Byrne said.
4chan’s Infamous Internet Legacy
In its two decades online, 4chan has gained notoriety for:
- High-profile celebrity cyberattacks and data breaches
- Hosting extremist viewpoints
- Coordinating targeted online harassment campaigns
- Originating some of the internet’s most iconic memes
U.S. Government Signals Support
The Trump administration has indicated willingness to push back against the Online Safety Act if needed. Earlier this week, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson sent a letter to major tech companies, including Meta, Apple, and Google’s parent Alphabet. The letter warned that the legislation could:
- Erode Americans’ freedoms
- Expose U.S. users to foreign surveillance
- Increase identity theft and fraud risks
Ferguson also noted that “censoring Americans to comply with a foreign power’s laws, demands, or expected demands” could violate U.S. law.
Other U.S. Companies Challenge the Law
Several U.S. websites, including Wikipedia’s parent organization, have taken issue with the Online Safety Act. Earlier this month, the UK High Court dismissed the Wikimedia Foundation’s legal challenge, which argued that the legislation could:
- Compromise user privacy
- Allow malicious users to block unverified editors
- Enable the spread of disinformation
About Will McCurdy
Contributor – PCMag
Will McCurdy is a reporter covering weekend news for PCMag. Since joining in 2024, he has contributed to numerous prestigious outlets, including BBC News, The Guardian, The Times of London, The Daily Beast, Vice, Slate, Fast Company, The Evening Standard, The i, TechRadar, and Decrypt Media.
A lifelong PC gamer—dating back to the era of installing games from multiple CD-ROMs—Will brings a deep understanding of technology and its impact on everyday life. His reporting spans crypto scandals, the art world, conspiracy theories, UK politics, foreign affairs, and Russia-related developments.
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