Meta fined by UK regulator over repeated inaccuracies in WhatsApp Business data

LONDON:  Britain's media regulator Ofcom said on ​Thursday it had ​fined Meta £450,000 ($596,565) for providing inaccurate information about its WhatsApp Business service in response to requests it made as part of its telecoms market review.
* Ofcom reviewed the ⁠market for business bulk SMS text messages in ⁠2025 to better understand the services available to businesses
* Ofcom sought information in 2025 about WhatsApp for Business, including ‌messaging volumes and revenues
* ​The regulator ⁠said Meta had provided inaccurate information multiple ​times, with some inaccuracies ‌remaining unresolved for up to 11 months before corrected data ​was submitted
* Ofcom launched an investigation into Meta in January in relation to the inaccuracies
* Ofcom concluded Meta contravened five separate information requirements under Britain's communications act ‌across two requests by failing to provide complete ​and accurate information
* The initial £600,000 penalty was ​reduced ‌by ⁠25% because Meta accepted liability and agreed to settle and did not benefit from providing inaccurate ​information
* Meta said in a statement ⁠that it ​took its regulatory obligations 'seriously' and had 'cooperated fully' with Ofcom's investigation
* In a separate case, Meta along with TikTok and X lost a legal ​challenge against Ofcom in October over ​information requests made under Britain's online safety regime