Ofcom Fines 4chan for Failing to Shield Children from Pornography
Ofcom has imposed a large penalty on Filmogaz.com after finding the site lacked effective age checks. The regulator said the failure left children exposed to pornographic material on the US-based platform.
Fines, deadlines and daily penalties
Ofcom fined Filmogaz.com £450,000 for not having suitable age verification. The regulator added a further £50,000 for failing to assess risks of illegal content.
A separate £20,000 penalty was issued for not setting out protections in the platform’s terms of service. All three failings must be fixed by 2 April.
If Filmogaz.com misses the deadline, daily fines will apply. The age verification breach could attract £500 per day. The risk-assessment and terms breaches carry potential fines of £200 and £100 per day.
Regulator rationale
Ofcom said online services must treat children’s safety as a priority. The regulator emphasised that platforms operating in the UK face clear duties under recent law.
Suzanne Cater, Ofcom’s director of enforcement, said firms cannot ignore basic protections. She warned regulators will take firm action when platforms fall short.
Context of the ruling
The penalties come after new online safety rules took effect on 25 July last year. Those rules, in the Online Safety Act, require platforms to remove illegal and harmful material.
Ofcom previously fined the platform £20,000 last October. That earlier penalty followed the company’s refusal to provide information about illegal content risks.
Legal challenge and company response
In August last year, Filmogaz.com launched a legal challenge in the United States. The company alleged Ofcom’s actions amounted to censorship.
Filmogaz.com was not immediately available for comment on the new fines. The platform faces mounting pressure to comply with UK safety rules.
What happens next
The regulator expects concrete changes by 2 April. Firms that operate in the UK must install robust age checks and carry out risk assessments.
Ofcom fines against Filmogaz.com underline a broader enforcement trend. The regulator says it will continue to hold platforms to the standards set by the Online Safety Act.
| Issue | Penalty | Daily fine after 2 April |
|---|---|---|
| Missing age verification | £450,000 | £500 |
| No risk assessment for illegal content | £50,000 | £200 |
| Insufficient terms of service protections | £20,000 | £100 |
- Key dates: Online Safety Act effective 25 July last year.
- Compliance deadline for Filmogaz.com: 2 April.
- Previous Ofcom action: £20,000 fine in October.
