UK media regulator Ofcom has formally opened an investigation into TikTok over concerns the platform is failing to protect children from harmful content, with the probe focusing specifically on whether TikTok's age assurance and age inference systems meet its legal obligations under the Online Safety Act. The investigation, announced on 16 July 2026, will seek to establish whether there are reasonable grounds to believe TikTok has failed, or is failing, to comply with its duties under the legislation.
Ofcom said TikTok's age inference methods may be failing to correctly detect significant numbers of children, putting them at risk of exposure to harmful content. Kate Davies, Ofcom's group director for strategy and research, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that some methods of age checks being used by social media platforms are not working well enough [Source: BBC]. The investigation was announced on the same day Ofcom published its first Age Assurance Report.
If found to be in breach, TikTok could face a fine of up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater. Ofcom also has the power to seek a court order compelling third parties such as internet service providers to take action, which could include blocking access to the platform. Ofcom clarified that opening an investigation is a procedural step and does not imply any conclusion has been reached regarding a potential breach of duties.
TikTok, which is owned by China-based ByteDance, said it strictly enforces age-appropriate experiences through expert-informed platform rules and advanced age inference technologies, in line with major industry peers [Source: Reuters]. 'We are confident we meet our Online Safety Act obligations and will work with Ofcom to demonstrate this,' a spokesperson said.
The investigation follows a review by Ofcom in May that criticised TikTok for not being 'safe enough' for children and called for stronger action on children's online safety. Ofcom has previously taken action, including issuing large fines, against dozens of adult sites over suspected or proven non-compliance with the Online Safety Act, and has also been investigating X under the same powers over its Grok AI image tool. The Online Safety Act was passed into law in October 2023 and has been rolled out in stages, with the Protection of Children's Codes taking effect on 25 July of the previous year.
The probe comes against a backdrop of tightening regulatory pressure on social media platforms in the UK. The government announced a month before the investigation that under-16s would be banned entirely from a range of social media platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, with the ban expected to come into force in Spring 2027. Britain is set to become the second nation after Australia to introduce such a ban. Separately, it was announced on 15 July that 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to opt in to overnight social media curfews and disable infinite scrolling.
Sources: Sky News, The Guardian, BBC, AFP, Reuters, Deadline