4chan, Kiwi Farms Sue UK Ofcom Over Online Safety Act Enforcement

US-based online forums 4chan and Kiwi Farms have filed a lawsuit in a US federal court challenging the UK’s Online Safety Act and its enforcement by the UK communications regulator Ofcom. The plaintiffs argue that the act’s age verification requirements and content moderation demands constitute an unconstitutional extraterritorial overreach that violates their First Amendment rights and US sovereignty. The Online Safety Act, effective since July 25, 2025, mandates users to verify age through photo ID, facial scans, or other means to access certain online content, with noncompliance risking heavy fines and potential criminal penalties. 4chan and Kiwi Farms contend that Ofcom, funded by industry and operating under UK law, unlawfully seeks to impose UK-style censorship on American websites operating entirely within the US. Ofcom maintains that any service linked to the UK must protect UK users regardless of the service’s base location, but the plaintiffs reject this jurisdictional claim, emphasizing the protection of free speech and American legal principles. The case represents a significant legal battle testing the international scope of internet regulation and raising concerns about privacy, free expression, and the limits of national internet governance.