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Ofcom Launches Investigation into TikTok's Child Safety Measures
Britain’s media regulator, Ofcom, has officially launched an investigation into TikTok to determine whether its UK unit is failing to protect children from harmful online content.
This regulatory action comes amid an intense national focus on digital wellbeing. Just a month ago, the UK government announced a landmark blanket ban on social media for users under the age of 16, alongside strict restrictions on livestreaming and gaming platforms.
Scrutinizing Age Verification and Harmful Content
The core of Ofcom's investigation focuses on TikTok's compliance with the Online Safety Act 2023. Specifically, the regulator is evaluating whether the platform has adequate "age assurance" measures to correctly identify child users and prevent them from viewing dangerous material. Harmful content under the Act includes posts promoting eating disorders, self-harm, suicide, and pornography.
In May, Ofcom explicitly stated that TikTok had failed to set out meaningful steps to protect British children. Now, the watchdog is taking aim at TikTok's reliance on "age inference" technologies. This method analyzes a user's digital behavior to estimate their age, but Ofcom has previously warned that such techniques often fail to accurately identify a significant proportion of children, putting them at risk.
High Stakes and Potential Fines
Ofcom was careful to note that the opening of this formal investigation does not mean it has reached any definitive conclusions about a breach of duties. However, if TikTok is found non-compliant, the consequences are severe. The platform could face massive fines of up to £18 million or 10% of its qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater.
TikTok has strongly denied any breaches of the law.
"We strictly enforce age-appropriate experiences through expert-informed platform rules and advanced age inference technologies, in line with major industry peers," a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement. "We are confident that we meet our Online Safety Act obligations and will work with Ofcom to demonstrate this."
The Broader UK Crackdown on Social Media
This investigation is unfolding against the backdrop of the UK's sweeping new social media regulations. On June 15, 2026, the government unveiled proposals for a total ban on social media use for children under 16, which is expected to come into force by early 2027.
As the government moves to block features like livestreaming and communicating with strangers for minors, TikTok will be under intense pressure to prove that its algorithms and safety gates are truly keeping kids safe. Ofcom is expected to provide an update on the TikTok investigation in October.