4chan declines to settle $26K penalty under UK online safety regulations

A lawyer representing 4chan has stated that the online message board will not pay the proposed fine issued by the UK regulator Ofcom under the Online Safety Act.

Preston Byrne, managing partner of Byrne & Storm, told the BBC that Ofcom had provisionally imposed a £20,000 penalty, with additional daily fines threatened until 4chan complies. He argued that the regulator’s notices “create no legal obligations in the United States” and described the investigation as part of an “illegal campaign of harassment” targeting US tech companies.

Ofcom launched an investigation to determine whether 4chan fulfilled its duties under the act, which mandates that platforms protect users from illegal content. In August, Ofcom said it issued a provisional notice of contravention against 4chan for failing to respond to two requests for information.

4chan’s legal teams, Byrne & Storm and Coleman Law, also issued a statement on X, emphasizing that as a US-based company, 4chan is shielded by American law. They warned that US courts would not enforce “foreign penal fines or censorship codes” and said they are prepared to seek relief through federal court.

Ofcom, however, maintains that the Online Safety Act requires platforms to protect users in the UK, regardless of where the company is incorporated.

The Online Safety Act came into effect in the UK in July, prompting several platforms to enhance their age verification processes. For instance, Xbox announced a new age verification system that users must complete by 2026 or face restricted social features on the Microsoft console.