UK regulator Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into TikTok to determine whether the platform is doing enough to protect children from harmful content. The probe comes after Ofcom’s review in May, when the regulator criticised TikTok’s approach to age verification and said its systems were not “safe enough” for children. Multiple outlets report that the investigation focuses on whether TikTok’s age-assurance and related processes are effective at identifying users under 18 and ensuring appropriate protections are in place under the UK’s Online Safety Act.
The Guardian and other reports note Ofcom’s particular concerns about the effectiveness of TikTok’s age-checking measures, which they say could leave some children at risk of exposure to harmful material. Coverage also highlights that Ofcom is examining TikTok’s compliance with relevant legal requirements for child safety, with the investigation framed as an escalation of questions raised publicly by the regulator earlier this year.
Ofcom has not indicated an outcome, but the investigation signals continued regulatory scrutiny of how TikTok manages child safety in the UK.
