Full Breakdown
U.S. Court Dismisses 4chan and Kiwi Farms Lawsuit Against Ofcom
By Drooid · · How we work
Background: UK Online Safety Act and Ofcom’s Reach
Britain’s Online Safety Act obliges online services that are accessible to UK users to assess illegal-content risks, enforce age-verification for pornographic material and provide statutory information to the regulator. Ofcom, the UK communications watchdog, began applying the regime to U.S.–based forums 4chan and Kiwi Farms in 2025, issuing a provisional notice of contravention on August 12, 2025 that threatened a £20,000 fine plus daily penalties. The regulator later imposed additional penalties totaling over £500,000 for alleged failures in age checks, risk assessments and terms-of-service disclosures.
Official Statements & Responses
District Judge Rudolph Contreras ruled that the U.S. He declined to address the underlying First-Amendment claims, leaving them for British courts. An Ofcom spokesperson welcomed the dismissal, stating the decision confirms the regulator’s right to investigate breaches of the UK’s online safety laws and to continue its enforcement duties.
Data & Statistics
- Provisional notice (August 12, 2025): £20,000 fine, £100 daily penalties for up to 60 days.
- October 2025: First fine under the new regime imposed, later reaching £6,000 in daily penalties.
- 2025-2026 penalties total: £520,000 for age-check failures, £50,000 for risk-assessment violations, £20,000 for terms-of-service information, plus earlier fines.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Put simply, plaintiffs' suit fails because they seek to use American courts as a sword against Ofcom rather than as a shield to protect themselves,” — District Judge Rudolph Contreras, stated district judge
- “A U.S. Court has acknowledged that we are within our rights as a UK regulator to investigate breaches of the UK's online safety laws, and has dismissed claims by 4chan and Kiwi Farms who have sought to stop us doing our job of creating a safer life online for people in the UK.” — An Ofcom spokesperson
The dismissal leaves the substantive constitutional arguments unresolved; the forums may pursue challenges in British courts, while any future attempt by Ofcom to enforce its UK judgments in the United States would likely trigger a new U.S. proceeding.