4Chan mocks £520k fine for UK online safety breaches

Post by drcongo » Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 7:00 PM UTC

gnfargbl wrote: post #83

deaddodo wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As shown in that same article, they also responded: >>> "Companies – wherever they're based – are not allowed to sell unsafe toys to children in the UK. And society has long protected youngsters from things like alcohol, smoking and gambling. The digital world should be no different," she said. "The UK is setting new standards for online safety. Age checks and risk assessments are cornerstones of our laws, and we'll…

Speaking as a UK citizen: you're exactly right. If the UK wants to prevent 4chan from being imported into the UK then it needs to block it at the border as it would for physical goods. The fact that's technically hard to do (at least without going full-on CCP) doesn't change the situation. Attempting to fine a foreign entity for doing something that breaks no laws in the foreign entity's jurisdiction is just risible.

Post by tokyobreakfast » Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 7:01 PM UTC

cm2187 wrote: post #110

gnfargbl wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speaking as a UK citizen: you're exactly right. If the UK wants to prevent 4chan from being imported into the UK then it needs to block it at the border as it would for physical goods. The fact that's technically hard to do (at least without going full-on CCP) doesn't change the situation. Attempting to fine a foreign entity for doing something that breaks no laws in the foreign entity's jurisdiction is just risible.

And we shall call it "the Great Firewall of the UK". It is amazing that these guys don't see the irony of monkeying totaliterian states policies, in term of surveillance and censorship.

Post by tokyobreakfast » Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 7:04 PM UTC

refulgentis wrote: post #108

tokyobreakfast wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US CBP routinely intercepts "dangerous" products. I assume the Brits have the same. It's a wonder why AliExpress flies under the radar. I assume it's impossible to keep up with it all. The UK's comically over-engineered electrics are no match for some of these plug-in-and-die sketchy USB chargers from the Far East. DiodesGoneWild on YouTube does teardowns of many of these incredibly poorly constructed deathtraps.

Commenting on Europe has gotten really lax the last year or so. People kinda will just say whatever pops into their head and it’s some drive-by claim that they haven’t thought about for a second past it popping into their head, presumably because it’s become normalized. (i.e. “but everyone knows Europe goes too far”) Sometimes it self resolves - as you contributed here, yes, countries limit and interfere and fine oth…

Post by helsinkiandrew » Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 7:05 PM UTC

crtasm wrote: post #42

dijit wrote: post #16

The response from Ofcom doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. If you are to sell a toy in the UK you must be a British company. (and must pay VAT and comply with British safety standards). If a consumer buys from overseas and imports a product then they do not have British consumer protections. Which is why so much aliexpress electrical stuff is dangerous (expecially USB chargers) yet it continues to be legally imported. Jus…

Is it correct to say the consumer is importing a product when it's aliexpress shipping it to them?

Post by aydyn » Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 7:07 PM UTC

john_strinlai wrote: post #22

> However, a lawyer representing the company - which has previously said it won't pay such fines - has responded to the demand with an AI-generated cartoon image of a hamster. > The latest image is not the first picture of a hamster lawyers for 4chan have sent in reply to Ofcom amazing. same energy as the pirate bay telling dreamworks to sodomize themselves. i cant help but laugh at the absurdness of it.