Meta Platforms, UK's Ofcom Face Off in Court Over Calculation of Fines

10:47 AM EDT, 10/13/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Meta Platforms (FB2A.F) is challenging the UK Office of Communications over how the internet and media watchdog calculates penalties for breaching online safety laws. At the start of a hearing in London's High Court on Tuesday, the Facebook and Instagram owner accused Ofcom of using disproportionate methods to calculate fees and potential fines for breaches of the UK's Online Safety Act, which empowers the regulator to impose penalties of up to 10% of a company's qualifying worldwide revenue or 18 million pounds sterling, whichever is higher. Meta argues that Ofcom is adopting the broadest possible approach to the definition of qualifying worldwide revenue and resorting to double-counting for its calculation of fines. In its skeleton argument sent to MT Newswires, Ofcom rebuffed Meta's accusations, saying the regulator "struck a careful balance" in its calculations. "In some respects Ofcom took a narrow approach, and in others (i.e. those respects which Meta challenges) it took a broad approach." "Effective regulation relies on our ability to gather information, levy appropriate fees, issue fines and apply the law as intended," an Ofcom spokesperson told MT. "While legal challenges are an important part of any regulatory regime, we will defend them robustly as part of our mission of making life safer online for people in the UK." Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.