**Ofcom Launches Investigations into 4chan, Adult Site, and File-Sharing Platforms Over Child Safety Concerns**
The UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, has commenced formal investigations into several online platforms, including the internet forum 4chan, an adult content provider, and multiple file-sharing services, over alleged failures to protect children and safeguard against illegal content. This move comes just months after new online safety legislation began holding digital services to much higher standards regarding the protection of young people and prevention of harmful material.
Authorities say that their enquiries will scrutinise whether these platforms have violated the provisions of the recently established Online Safety Act. This landmark law obliges sites accessible within the UK to proactively stamp out images of child sexual abuse and to implement robust age verification and monitoring mechanisms, especially on platforms where such risks are more pronounced.
Among those under the regulatory spotlight are 4chan, a forum frequently at the centre of debate over content moderation, and First Time Videos, an adult entertainment company operating websites such as FTVGirls.com and FTVMilfs.com. In addition, seven file-sharing sites—Im.ge, Krakenfiles, Nippybox, Nippydrive, Nippyshare, Nippyspace, and Yolobit—have come under review. The names of these services, while not all widely known, highlight the diversity of online spaces now subject to scrutiny as enforcement ramps up.
The regulator indicated that it had received complaints suggesting illegal acts on 4chan, alongside reports of potential child abuse imagery being shared on some of the file-sharing sites listed. These allegations raised serious questions about the adequacy of safety controls and monitoring on these platforms.
Ofcom is also investigating whether First Time Videos has adopted sufficiently rigorous age verification measures—methods now legally mandated for adult sites to prevent access by under-18s. The requirement for “highly effective” age checks formed one of the central pillars of the new online safety framework, signalling the UK’s zero-tolerance stance towards exposing minors to explicit content.
A spokesperson for Ofcom commented, “We have received complaints about the potential for illegal content and activity on 4chan, and possible sharing of child sexual abuse material on the file-sharing services. As regulator, we have the authority and responsibility to ensure these platforms adhere to the standards expected by UK law.” The nature and number of complaints was not specified, but the breadth of the investigation demonstrates escalating regulatory attention on both mainstream and niche digital services.
Should Ofcom determine that these companies have breached the Online Safety Act, it holds the power to issue severe penalties. Fines could reach £18 million, or up to 10% of the parent company’s global annual turnover—whichever is higher. In egregious cases, the regulator can also seek court orders to have the sites blocked in the UK, preventing local users from accessing them entirely.
Many in the tech sector and child safety advocacy groups are following this development closely, interpreting it as a sign that the government is prepared to take tangible action against platforms that fail to prioritise user safety. There is heightened anticipation for a series of further enforcement actions, as Ofcom revealed that broader sections of the Online Safety Act will become applicable from late July 2025, putting a greater range of internet services in the regulatory crosshairs.
As the story unfolds, it underscores a growing commitment from UK authorities to address online harms and protect the country’s youth. The coming months could prove to be pivotal, both for the companies involved and for the wider digital landscape, as regulations are tested and the boundaries of online accountability are redefined.