UK online safety regulator says lawsuits won’t curb enforcement; weighs legal risks

By Patricia Figueiredo ( October 20, 2026, 11:26 GMT | Insight) -- Legal challenges from Meta Platforms, X and TikTok aren’t weakening the UK online safety regulator’s appetite for enforcement, its chief executive told lawmakers on Tuesday. Melanie Dawes said Ofcom would robustly defend challenges to its information demands and funding rules, but its chair Ian Cheshire said it wouldn't be taking “stupid risks” that could expose it to legal costs. Dawes also called for stronger powers to require platforms to use AI to proactively find illegal content.The threat of litigation isn’t hindering Ofcom’s appetite for online safety enforcement, the UK regulator’s top executive told lawmakers on Tuesday....

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