Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, is investigating TikTok's child safety measures under the Online Safety Act 2023 Section 12. The regulator is assessing whether the platform adequately protects children from harmful content and uses effective age verification systems.

A new Ofcom report questions TikTok's age inference method, which estimates user age based on platform engagement rather than formal documentation. TikTok updated its age verification rules in early 2026, requiring birthdate entry and conducting "multiple checks" including the age inference model now under scrutiny. The company says a European pilot successfully removed thousands of underage accounts.

Ofcom has previously ruled out age inference as highly effective for adult sites since it requires observing behavior first, rather than preventing access. Compliance failures carry fines up to £18 million ($24 million) or 10 percent of qualifying worldwide revenue. TikTok states it has invested billions in safety and is confident in its compliance.

Ofcom has pressured Meta, Snap, and Roblox to adopt tougher anti-grooming measures, while TikTok and YouTube did not commit to significant changes. The UK plans to ban under-16s from social media apps starting next year.