The UK media regulator Ofcom said on July 16 it had opened an investigation into TikTok’s UK unit to assess whether the platform failed or is failing to protect children from harmful content.

The probe will examine whether TikTok, the short-video social media platform owned by China-based ByteDance, has effective checks to determine if a user is a child and systems to stop children from seeing harmful material.

Ofcom said in May that TikTok had not set out meaningful steps to protect children in the UK from harmful online content.

It also said that opening a case does not mean it has concluded TikTok breached its duties.

Under the Online Safety Act, services likely to be accessed by children must protect them from harmful content, enforce age limits consistently, assess risks to children, and provide age-appropriate experiences.

The move comes a month after the UK government announced it will ban social media for users under 16 from spring 2027 and restrict features such as livestreaming and contact with strangers on some other services, including gaming platforms.

Ofcom can fine companies up to 18 million pounds (US$24.2 million) or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue for breaches.

🔗 Source: Reuters

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