Meta, TikTok and X Lose UK High Court Battle Over Online Safety Data

Three major technology companies—Meta, TikTok and X—have lost a legal challenge against Britain’s communications regulator, Ofcom, over demands for extensive information about their content moderation activities. The ruling was delivered by London’s High Court on October 30, 2026, in one of the early major legal tests of the UK’s Online Safety Act 2023. The companies had challenged information notices issued by Ofcom, arguing that the regulator’s requests were excessive and placed an unreasonable burden on their operations. However, the court rejected their arguments and allowed the information requests to remain in force.

The information notices were issued in February and require the platforms to provide detailed statistics about how they manage harmful and illegal content. The requested information includes the number of posts removed or restricted, the number of accounts affected by moderation decisions and how many users were exposed to harmful material. Ofcom also wants information about children’s experiences on the platforms, including the volume of harmful content they encounter and the actions taken to address it. Other requested details cover user complaints, appeals against moderation decisions and how long platforms take to respond to reports. The regulator says the information is necessary to assess whether online safety protections are working effectively.

During the legal proceedings, the companies argued that collecting the requested information would require extensive technical work and could cost millions of pounds. Their lawyers described the requests as unusually demanding, with some information requiring complex analysis of large datasets covering several years. X argued that the exercise would involve processing vast amounts of information that were not necessarily required for its normal business operations. Meta also questioned whether Ofcom’s requests were proportionate to its regulatory objectives, while TikTok raised concerns about the scale of the information required. The judges, however, concluded that the companies had not provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the demands were unlawfully burdensome.

The decision represents an important development in the implementation of Britain’s Online Safety Act, which gives Ofcom powers to monitor social media companies and enforce rules designed to protect users, particularly children. Under the legislation, platforms can face financial penalties of up to 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue for the most serious breaches. Ofcom welcomed the judgment, explaining that access to information from technology companies is essential to determining whether they are meeting their legal responsibilities. The regulator also maintains that collecting reliable data will help it understand the scale of harmful content online and identify areas where additional safety measures may be necessary.

The ruling could influence how social media companies respond to regulatory demands in the UK and potentially strengthen Ofcom’s position in future investigations. Meta expressed disappointment with the decision, while TikTok said it was considering the judgment. X did not immediately provide a public response. The case is separate from other legal disputes involving Meta and Ofcom, including disagreements over regulatory fees and the application of certain provisions of the Online Safety Act. For technology companies operating in Britain, the judgment sends a clear message that regulators can demand substantial information to assess online safety compliance. The next challenge will be ensuring that the information gathered leads to meaningful improvements in content moderation and better protection for users, especially children.