Websites originating from the US have filed lawsuits against the UK's regulator due to their escalated actions concerning the implementation of the Online Safety Act.

The UK's Online Safety Act, implemented on July 25, 2025, has sparked a significant legal battle as American-owned social media platforms face enforcement actions from the Office of Communications (Ofcom). The first four targets under the Act include major companies like X, Rumble, and Reddit.

Ofcom sent enforcement notices beginning March 26, 2025, demanding compliance with the UK's Online Safety Act 2023. These requirements include written risk assessments, content moderation systems, and age verification systems. The Act also extends regulatory reach beyond traditional content moderation, granting Ofcom authority to coordinate with payment processors in enforcing compliance measures.

The enforcement actions have raised jurisdictional questions, particularly with regard to Ofcom's commercial enforcement model, funded through fees charged to regulated companies. This model has led to a lawsuit seeking declaratory judgment that Ofcom's service attempts were improper and invalid under international law.

The lawsuit filed by 4chan Community Support LLC and Lolcow, LLC (operating Kiwi Farms) against Ofcom represents the first major constitutional challenge to the extraterritorial application of the UK Online Safety Act against American companies. The lawsuit alleges violations of First Amendment rights and improper service of process under international law.

The lawsuit faces growing public resistance within the UK, with a petition calling for repeal gathering over 251,000 signatures. VPN usage surged 1,400% in the UK following the Act's implementation, demonstrating significant user resistance to the new regulatory framework.

Enforcement penalties include fines of up to £18 million or 10% of worldwide revenue, along with potential criminal sanctions including imprisonment. The lawsuit seeks declaratory judgment that all Ofcom service attempts were invalid under US law and international treaty obligations.

The UK's approach to content moderation demonstrates how European regulators increasingly seek to enforce domestic standards against American platforms. This development has the potential to reshape the global landscape of digital regulation.

As of now, no information is available about any companies filing a lawsuit against Ofcom in August 2025 or about which US courts such a lawsuit would be addressed to. The ongoing legal battle underscores the complexities and challenges of regulating global digital platforms in an increasingly interconnected world.

Websites originating from the US have filed lawsuits against the UK's regulator due to their escalated actions concerning the implementation of the Online Safety Act.