Ofcom Investigates TikTok's Child Safety Measures Under UK Online Safety Act

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, has launched a formal investigation into TikTok over concerns that the platform may be failing to meet its legal obligations to protect children from harmful content.

Investigation Under the Online Safety Act

Ofcom is examining whether TikTok has breached Section 12 of the Online Safety Act 2023, which requires platforms to assess and mitigate the risks of harm to minors. Specifically, the regulator is looking at whether TikTok’s systems are adequate for preventing children from encountering harmful content on the platform.

The investigation follows a broader push by Ofcom to hold major social media platforms accountable for child safety. In May 2026, Meta, Snap, and Roblox committed to tougher anti-grooming measures in the UK, while TikTok and YouTube were contacted but did not agree to significant changes at the time.

Age Verification Concerns

A central focus of the probe is TikTok’s age inference system, which estimates a user’s age based on how they interact with the platform rather than requiring formal identification. Ofcom has published a separate report questioning the effectiveness of this approach.

Ofcom has previously stated that age inference alone is not a highly effective solution for platforms that should restrict access to children entirely, as it requires observing user behaviour over time before making a determination.

TikTok updated its age verification rules at the start of 2026, requiring users to enter their birthdate when creating an account. Those who do not meet the minimum age requirement of 13 are suspended from immediately attempting to re-register with a different age. The platform claims it conducts “multiple checks” beyond the initial birthdate entry, including the age inference model now under scrutiny.

Penalties and Consequences

If Ofcom finds TikTok to be in breach of its duties, compliance failures are punishable by fines of up to £18 million (approximately $24 million) or 10 percent of qualifying worldwide revenue — whichever is greater. In more serious cases, Ofcom can seek a court order requiring third parties, such as advertisers, to take action that disrupts the platform’s business operations.

A TikTok spokesperson told Engadget: “We strictly enforce age-appropriate experiences through expert-informed platform rules and advanced age inference technologies, in line with major industry peers. We are confident that we meet our Online Safety Act obligations and will work with Ofcom to demonstrate this.”

Broader Regulatory Landscape

The investigation comes amid a wider crackdown on social media platforms in the UK. The government has announced plans to ban children under 16 from using platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X starting next year. Ofcom has stressed that no conclusions about TikTok have been reached at this stage, but the outcome of this investigation could set significant precedents for how social media platforms handle child safety in the UK.

Online Safety Act on Know the Tech

Ofcom Investigates TikTok's Child Safety Measures Under UK Online Safety Act

Investigation Under the Online Safety Act

Age Verification Concerns

Penalties and Consequences

Broader Regulatory Landscape