iWorld
Ofcom probes TikTok over child safety compliance in the UK
Regulator examines safeguards for minors under Online Safety Act amid tougher rules
MUMBAI: TikTok’s latest challenge isn’t chasing trends, it’s keeping pace with regulators. The short-video platform is facing fresh scrutiny in the UK after communications regulator Ofcom launched an investigation into whether it is doing enough to protect children from harmful online content.
According to a Reuters report, Ofcom will examine whether TikTok has effective systems to accurately identify child users and robust safeguards to prevent minors from being exposed to content that could harm their wellbeing, as required under the UK’s Online Safety Act.
The probe comes amid tightening oversight of digital platforms in Britain. The UK government recently announced stricter measures for younger users, including a broad social media ban for those under 16, alongside additional restrictions covering gaming and livestreaming services.
Ofcom stressed that opening the investigation does not imply TikTok has breached the law. Instead, the regulator will assess whether the platform’s existing policies, age-assurance technologies and enforcement mechanisms meet the standards set out under the country’s online safety framework.
The inquiry follows concerns raised by Ofcom earlier this year, when it said TikTok had not adequately explained how it intended to reduce children’s exposure to potentially harmful material on the platform.
TikTok has rejected suggestions that it has fallen short of its obligations. The company said it provides age-appropriate experiences through platform policies developed with expert guidance and uses technology designed to estimate users’ ages. It added that it remains confident it is complying with the Online Safety Act and will cooperate fully with Ofcom during the investigation.
The case adds to growing global pressure on social media companies as regulators increasingly shift their focus from moderating content to demonstrating that platforms have effective systems in place to protect younger users. With online safety climbing higher on policymakers’ agendas, TikTok’s compliance framework is now firmly under the regulatory spotlight.
