Operators of the online forums 4chan and Kiwi Farms have launched a federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C., seeking to block the UK communications regulator Ofcom from enforcing the UK’s Online Safety Act against them on US soil.
US lawsuit challenges Ofcom’s extraterritorial reach
The complaint, filed by the corporate entities behind the platforms — 4Chan Community Support LLC and Lolcow LLC — asks a US federal court to declare that Ofcom has no authority to impose or attempt to impose UK regulatory requirements on businesses operating in the United States without a physical UK presence.
Lawyers from Byrne & Storm and the Coleman Law Firm represent the plaintiffs. They argue that Ofcom’s direction to carry out assessments and produce records amounts to an unlawful attempt to exert control over American companies and users.
Constitutional claims cited in the complaint
The lawsuit contends the Online Safety Act conflicts with core protections under the US Constitution, including free speech and privacy safeguards. Plaintiffs seek a declaration that Ofcom’s orders are unenforceable in the United States and request a permanent injunction barring enforcement attempts.
Attorneys for the platforms frame the case as a defense of American civil liberties, telling the court that foreign regulatory pressure cannot strip US persons of their constitutional rights. The filing references the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments in support of that position.
Ofcom’s position and enforcement steps
Ofcom has informed the operators that it has issued correspondence seeking information and compliance with duties under the Online Safety Act, including carrying out illegal-content risk assessments and submitting records for review.
The regulator says it is investigating whether the services are meeting their duties to protect users from illegal content and has indicated potential enforcement measures, including fines. Ofcom has not publicly confirmed any final penalty in this matter.
Background on the platforms and controversies
4chan, active for more than two decades, has been linked to a range of online controversies, while users of Kiwi Farms have been associated with sustained harassment campaigns that drew wider scrutiny. The companies assert they comply with US law and regulatory obligations domestically.
The legal action amplifies long-running tensions over how national regulators can apply domestic internet rules to services with international users, a question that legal scholars and digital-rights groups have debated for years.
Potential implications for transatlantic internet regulation
Legal experts say the case could set a precedent for how US courts treat attempts by foreign regulators to reach into the American internet ecosystem. A ruling for the plaintiffs would limit Ofcom’s practical leverage over US-based services; a ruling for Ofcom could embolden cross-border enforcement strategies.
The dispute spotlights broader questions about platform accountability, national sovereignty and the balance between protecting users from harm and preserving free expression online.
Relief sought and next steps in court
In addition to a declaratory judgment and permanent injunction, the complaint asks the court to bar Ofcom from seeking to impose civil or criminal penalties on US persons for noncompliance with UK regulatory demands. The matter will proceed through the federal docket in Washington as the parties exchange legal briefs and arguments.
As the litigation unfolds, regulators, platform operators and free-speech advocates in London and Washington will be watching closely for signals about the limits of national regulation in a global internet.
