Ofcom acknowledges most online safety penalties remain unpaid
Ofcom chief Dame Melanie Dawes told lawmakers that only two of eleven fines issued under the Online Safety Act have been collected, leaving nine unpaid.
Dame Melanie Dawes, head of Ofcom, appeared before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee and revealed that only two out of eleven fines levied under the Online Safety Act have been paid. The remaining nine fines are still due, and four of the offending platforms have responded by geo-blocking the United Kingdom, while three continue to run without any modifications. Dawes cautioned that attempts to enforce the penalties could be obstructed by foreign courts, meaning some money may never be recovered.
American lawyer Preston Byrne, who previously defended 4chan against an Ofcom fine, suggested the regulator has limited recourse beyond its own jurisdiction. The discussion also featured a comment from Robert Jenrick on a unrelated one outlet issue, highlighting broader concerns about online safety enforcement.
