4chan fined $26K for refusing to assess risks under UK Online Safety Act

The ongoing clash over the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA) intensified as the regulator Ofcom imposed a fine of approximately $26,000 on the controversial platform 4chan. This penalty stems from 4chan's failure to submit a risk assessment regarding the potential dangers of illegal content on its site. In an official statement to Ars, Ofcom revealed that 4chan ignored two routine information requests. The first request sought a detailed risk assessment, while the second inquired about the platform's global revenue. Anticipating the fine, 4chan had already indicated its awareness of the impending penalty through a lawsuit filed in August alongside the online forum Kiwi Farms. This lawsuit aims to prevent Ofcom from enforcing the OSA, claiming that the regulator's actions were prompted by 4chan's failure to respond to previous communications. 4chan now has a 60-day window to comply with Ofcom's requests. However, if the platform continues to disregard these demands, it risks accruing additional fines of approximately $130 per day. Continued noncompliance could lead to the site being blocked in the UK, and potentially face even larger fines amounting to around $23 million or 10% of its global revenue, whichever is greater. The lawsuit also highlights the threat of criminal charges against 4chan, which could include imprisonment for up to two years. 4chan’s legal representatives argue that Ofcom's enforcement of the OSA poses a serious risk to free speech, particularly for American users. They contend that the risk assessment requirements could lead to censorship of content that is legally protected under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. As the situation unfolds, it appears that 4chan remains steadfast in its resistance against Ofcom, viewing the regulator's actions as an infringement on Internet freedom, which it argues is primarily an American innovation.