Meta challenges UK media regulator over online safety fees

LONDON, May 7 (Reuters) - ​Facebook ⁠and Instagram owner Meta ​is bringing a legal challenge ​against ‌Britain's media regulator Ofcom over how ⁠fees and penalties are ⁠set under the ​government's Online Safety Act, Ofcom said on Thursday.

An Ofcom spokesperson ​said ‌in a statement: "Meta have initiated a judicial review in relation to online safety ​fees and penalties.

"Under the Online Safety ‌Act, these are to be set with reference ‌to a provider's 'Qualifying Worldwide Revenue', which we have defined based on ​a plain reading of the law.

"Disappointingly, ‌Meta are objecting to the payment of fees, and any penalties ⁠that ⁠could be levied ‌on companies in future, that are calculated ​on ​this basis.

"We will ‌robustly defend our reasoning and decisions." (Reporting by Sam Tobin, Editing by Paul Sandle)

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