UK High Court Rejects Challenge by Meta, TikTok, and X Against Ofcom Data Demands

Meta Platforms, TikTok, and X have lost a legal challenge in London's High Court against UK communications regulator Ofcom regarding extensive content moderation data demands. The court rejected arguments that the regulator's information notices, issued under the UK's Online Safety Act 2023, were disproportionate or beyond its statutory powers. Ofcom had demanded three years of detailed metrics on post removals, visibility restrictions, and user exposure to harmful content, particularly concerning child safety. The tech firms argued compliance would cost millions of pounds, but non-compliant platforms now face potential fines reaching up to 10% of global annual turnover.