United Kingdom: Announced Ofcom investigation into TikTok for potential non-compliance with a formal information request related to its parental control systems

On 14 December 2023, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) announced that it is opening an investigation into TikTok for potential non-compliance with a formal information request. The notice issued on 6 July 2023, under section 368Z10 of the Communications Act, required TikTok to provide detailed information about its parental control systems, particularly how these systems protect users under 18 from restricted material. The investigation aims to verify if TikTok's response to the request was complete and accurate, as there are indications following the Ofcom inquiry that the platform failed to provide all the information requested. The investigation is part of Ofcom's strategy to understand and report on how UK-established video-sharing platforms, including TikTok, are safeguarding users from harmful content. An update on this investigation is expected by February 2024.