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The UK communications regulator Ofcom is investigating 4chan for failing to comply with the Online Safety Act, including not responding to information requests and potentially hosting illegal content. On August 13, 2025, Ofcom issued 4chan a provisional notice of contravention and intends to impose an initial fine of £20,000 plus daily penalties. 4chan's lawyers stated the site is a US company with no UK operations and will resist paying fines in US courts, citing First Amendment rights. They called on the US government to use all legal means to protect American companies from foreign censorship mandates. The US Federal Trade Commission also warned tech companies against censoring Americans to comply with foreign laws, referencing the UK Online Safety Act. Ofcom may seek court orders to disrupt 4chan’s UK business or block access if fines are ineffective. 4chan has a history of hosting controversial content and was previously blocked in Australia and New Zealand. Separately, Wikipedia is contesting UK Online Safety Act provisions requiring user identity verification. The UK government recently dropped a demand for Apple to create a government backdoor under the Investigatory Powers Act. (Updated 23 Aug 2025, 07:59 IST; source: link)