The popular social media platform **TikTok** is facing a formal investigation by the UK's communications regulator, **Ofcom**, over allegations of inadequate age verification. **Ofcom** announced its inquiry, stating that **TikTok** may be in breach of Britain’s **Online Safety Act** by failing to effectively protect children online. ### Concerns Over Age Inference Models **Ofcom**'s primary concern revolves around the age inference models employed by **TikTok** and other social media companies. These models, which analyze browsing habits, online interactions, and other internet activity rather than direct ID or biometric verification, are alleged to have "failed to correctly identify a significant proportion of children, putting them at risk of exposure to harmful content." Under the **Online Safety Act**, age inference is not listed among the "highly effective" age verification methods mandated for companies. **Ofcom** has urged platforms relying on such methods to swiftly transition to more robust alternatives. **Melanie Dawes**, **Ofcom**’s Chief Executive, emphasized the importance of these checks, stating, “Age checks are a cornerstone of the UK’s online safety laws. Too many services have no or inadequate age checks in place, which is not good enough.” ### Potential Penalties and Broader Legislation Violations of the **Online Safety Act** can result in substantial penalties, including fines of up to £18 million ($21 million) or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue. In severe cases, the British government could even move to ban non-compliant platforms from operating within the country. The investigation into **TikTok** coincides with broader legislative efforts by the UK's Labour Party government, which is proposing to bar children under 16 from accessing social media platforms altogether. This proposed legislation, set to be presented to Parliament before Christmas, would apply to major "user-to-user platforms" like **Facebook**, **Instagram**, **X**, **YouTube**, and **Snapchat**, necessitating even more rigorous age verification measures. ### TikTok's Response In response to the investigation, a **TikTok** spokesperson stated that the company "strictly enforce[s] age-appropriate experiences through expert-informed platform rules and advanced age inference technologies, in line with major industry peers." The company affirmed its confidence in meeting its **Online Safety Act** obligations and pledged to cooperate with **Ofcom**. **Ofcom** expects to provide a public update on the investigation's status in October, as it continues to analyze what constitutes "highly effective age checks in practice" for Parliament.