Overview

• The joint complaint was filed August 27 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking an injunction and a declaration that Ofcom lacks jurisdiction.
• Ofcom said it is aware of the case and reiterated that services with links to the UK have duties to protect UK users regardless of where they are based.
• The filing follows Ofcom’s August 13 provisional decision that 4chan contravened its duties, with reported daily penalties of about £20,000 and potential fines up to £18 million or 10% of turnover.
• 4chan and Kiwi Farms assert they are entirely U.S.-based with no UK operations, argue First Amendment protections apply, and describe Ofcom as an “industry-funded global censorship bureau.”
• Legal observers note the case could set a precedent for cross-border internet regulation and for challenges to age-verification and other obligations under the Online Safety Act.