UK Regulator Ofcom Issues £20,000 Fine to US-Based 4chan, Igniting Free Speech Clash

London, UK – The UK's Office of Communications (Ofcom) has reportedly issued a provisional notice to the American imageboard 4chan, threatening a £20,000 fine and subsequent daily penalties for alleged non-compliance with the Online Safety Act 2023. This action has sparked a transatlantic dispute, with 4chan's legal team vehemently asserting that the UK lacks jurisdiction over the US-based company and that such enforcement infringes upon American First Amendment rights. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) Executive Vice President Nico Perrino highlighted the broader implications, stating, "The 1A will become meaningless in our digital era if foreign censors can punish American businesses for their speech."

Ofcom's provisional decision, issued under the recently enacted Online Safety Act, stems from 4chan's alleged failure to provide a risk assessment on illegal content, respond to formal information requests, and demonstrate measures to mitigate harmful content under UK law. The Online Safety Act, which came into full effect in April 2025, grants Ofcom powers to regulate online services, including those based outside the UK but with a significant number of UK users or targeting the UK market. The Act aims to protect users, particularly children, from illegal and harmful content such as child sexual abuse material and terrorism.

In a sharp rebuttal, 4chan's legal representatives, Byrne & Storm, P.C., and Coleman Law, P.C., stated that "4chan is a United States company, incorporated in Delaware, with no establishment, assets, or operations in the United Kingdom." The law firm emphasized that "American businesses do not surrender their First Amendment rights because a foreign bureaucrat sends them an e-mail," arguing that US courts will not enforce foreign penal fines or censorship codes. This stance underscores a fundamental tension between national regulatory efforts and international free speech principles.

Reports indicate that the White House had previously warned UK leadership, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, against targeting American companies with UK censorship mandates. Despite these warnings, Ofcom is proceeding with its enforcement actions, signaling a firm commitment to the Online Safety Act's extraterritorial reach. 4chan's lawyers are calling for immediate intervention from the highest levels of the American government, urging the Trump administration to "invoke all diplomatic and legal levers available to the United States to protect American companies from extraterritorial censorship mandates."

The confrontation highlights the complex challenges of regulating the internet across national borders, particularly when differing legal frameworks and constitutional protections are at play. The outcome of this dispute could set a significant precedent for how countries attempt to impose their domestic online safety and content moderation laws on global internet platforms.