Ofcom admits it may never collect 4chan's fines

Ofcom CEO Melanie Dawes told UK MPs that the regulator may be unable to recover fines from foreign companies if overseas courts block enforcement. Ofcom has issued 11 online safety fines since March 2025, but only two have been paid. 4chan's lawyer called the remarks an admission of defeat in the dispute over fines worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

• Ofcom has issued 11 online safety fines since March 2025; only 2 paid
• 4chan has mocked the regulator with AI-generated hamster images
• A US court dismissed 4chan's suit but questioned enforcing foreign penalties
• 4chan's lawyer called the remarks an admission of defeat