4chan forum blocked in US legal challenge over UK online safety fine
( September 16, 2026, 09:20 GMT | Official Statement) -- MLex Summary: The operator of US online forum 4chan has seen a legal challenge in the US over a UK online safety fine blocked after judges said they lacked legal authority to hear the case. UK regulator Ofcom imposed a fine totaling £520,000 over the forum's failure to comply with the UK's Online Safety Act, but 4chan refused to pay, questioning its authority to enforce against US companies. The forum lodged a federal lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, saying Ofcom had violated its rights under US law. The court ruled on Tuesday that Ofcom had invoked sovereign immunity and so it didn't have jurisdiction to hear the case.Court documents are attached. ...
Prepare for tomorrow’s regulatory change, today
MLex identifies risk to business wherever it emerges, with specialist reporters across the globe providing exclusive news and deep-dive analysis on the proposals, probes, enforcement actions and rulings that matter to your organization and clients, now and in the longer term.
Know what others in the room don’t, with features including:
- Daily newsletters for Antitrust, M&A, Trade, Data Privacy & Security, Technology, AI and more
- Custom alerts on specific filters including geographies, industries, topics and companies to suit your practice needs
- Predictive analysis from expert journalists across North America, the UK and Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific
- Curated case files bringing together news, analysis and source documents in a single timeline
Experience MLex today with a 14-day free trial.