Overview
- Ofcom launched a formal probe on Thursday, July 16, 2026, to establish whether TikTok’s age-assurance systems are failing to detect significant numbers of children and so leaving them exposed to harmful material.
- The investigation focuses on so-called age inference, a behavioural method that estimates age from activity and interactions, which Ofcom says is not listed in its guidance as a ‘highly effective’ verification method.
- TikTok says it is confident it meets the Online Safety Act, defends its use of advanced age-inference tools, says UK accounts default to under-18 settings until age is verified, and has pledged to cooperate with Ofcom.
- Ofcom’s Age Assurance report found measurable progress since the Online Safety Act took effect, with children encountering 'highly effective' checks rising from 25% to 43%, but it also documented gaps such as search results that still link to porn sites without age checks.
- If Ofcom finds breaches it can fine firms up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying global revenue and has already opened dozens of investigations into adult services while planning further assessments to Parliament and app-store reporting next year.