Ofcom Fines Meta £450,000 Over Inaccurate WhatsApp Data
Ofcom fined Meta £450,000 for providing inaccurate information about WhatsApp Business services during a 2025 telecoms market review.
Britain's media regulator Ofcom fined Meta £450,000 on Thursday for providing inaccurate information regarding its WhatsApp Business service. The penalties follow a 2025 telecoms market review in which the regulator sought data on revenues and messaging volumes for business bulk SMS services.
Ofcom determined that Meta contravened five separate information requirements under the UK communications act across two requests. The regulator noted that some of the inaccuracies remained unresolved for up to 11 months. While the initial penalty was set at £600,000, Ofcom reduced the fine by 25% because Meta accepted liability, agreed to settle, and did not benefit from the inaccuracies.
Meta stated it takes its regulatory obligations "seriously" and "cooperated fully" with the investigation. This regulatory action follows a separate legal defeat in October involving Meta, TikTok, and X regarding information requests under the online safety regime in Britain.
