Ofcom probes Meta over WhatsApp info it was legally required to provide
(2026/01/23)
- Reference: 1769208304
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2026/01/23/ofcom_probe_whatsapp/
- Source link:
Ofcom is formally investigating whether Meta complied with legally binding information requests regarding WhatsApp's role in the UK business messaging ecosystem.
The case, [1]published on Ofcom's own enforcement register on Friday , centers on two statutory "section 135" notices issued to Meta on July 31, 2024, and June 19, 2025, under the Communications Act 2003.
Those notices required Meta to hand over data on how WhatsApp Business competes in the application-to-person messaging market – the unglamorous stuff companies use to ping customers about parcels, appointments, and login codes.
[2]
Ofcom said the information it received so far may not have been complete or accurate. In statutory requests like these, accuracy isn't a suggestion: it's a legal requirement, and failure to comply can trigger enforcement action under section 138 of the Act.
[3]
[4]
"The information gathered through statutory information requests is a key part of Ofcom's work and informs how it carries out its statutory functions as a regulator," the watchdog said. "It is therefore crucial that stakeholders provide accurate and complete information in a timely fashion."
Ofcom declined to say what details provided by Meta may have been questionable when asked by The Register.
[5]FTC tries to un-Zuck Meta's grip on the market by dragging it back to court
[6]UK gambling regulator accuses Meta of lying about its struggle to spot illegal ads
[7]Meta retreats from metaverse after virtual reality check
[8]Meta admits to Instagram password reset mess, denies data leak
In a statement to The Register , Meta said: "We take regulatory obligations seriously and devote significant resources to responding to requests for information in a timely and accurate manner. We will cooperate with Ofcom in its investigation."
The probe adds to a growing list of regulatory headaches for Meta in the UK and Europe – from [9]child protection age-checks to [10]gambling ad scrutiny – as competition authorities globally tighten oversight of Big Tech.
[11]
Ofcom will publish further updates on its enforcement page as the inquiry develops. ®
Get our [12]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/telecoms-infrastructure/investigation-into-metas-compliance-with-statutory-requests-for-information
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/legal&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aXP9kCxKUgfwiUgmI0xgxwAAAkU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
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[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/legal&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aXP9kCxKUgfwiUgmI0xgxwAAAkU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/21/ftc_to_drag_meta_back/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/20/uk_gambling_comission_criticizes_meta/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/16/meta_quest_horizon_workrooms/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/11/infosec_news_in_brief/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/16/eu_investigates_meta_over_its/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/20/uk_gambling_comission_criticizes_meta/
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/legal&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aXP9kCxKUgfwiUgmI0xgxwAAAkU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The case, [1]published on Ofcom's own enforcement register on Friday , centers on two statutory "section 135" notices issued to Meta on July 31, 2024, and June 19, 2025, under the Communications Act 2003.
Those notices required Meta to hand over data on how WhatsApp Business competes in the application-to-person messaging market – the unglamorous stuff companies use to ping customers about parcels, appointments, and login codes.
[2]
Ofcom said the information it received so far may not have been complete or accurate. In statutory requests like these, accuracy isn't a suggestion: it's a legal requirement, and failure to comply can trigger enforcement action under section 138 of the Act.
[3]
[4]
"The information gathered through statutory information requests is a key part of Ofcom's work and informs how it carries out its statutory functions as a regulator," the watchdog said. "It is therefore crucial that stakeholders provide accurate and complete information in a timely fashion."
Ofcom declined to say what details provided by Meta may have been questionable when asked by The Register.
[5]FTC tries to un-Zuck Meta's grip on the market by dragging it back to court
[6]UK gambling regulator accuses Meta of lying about its struggle to spot illegal ads
[7]Meta retreats from metaverse after virtual reality check
[8]Meta admits to Instagram password reset mess, denies data leak
In a statement to The Register , Meta said: "We take regulatory obligations seriously and devote significant resources to responding to requests for information in a timely and accurate manner. We will cooperate with Ofcom in its investigation."
The probe adds to a growing list of regulatory headaches for Meta in the UK and Europe – from [9]child protection age-checks to [10]gambling ad scrutiny – as competition authorities globally tighten oversight of Big Tech.
[11]
Ofcom will publish further updates on its enforcement page as the inquiry develops. ®
Get our [12]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/telecoms-infrastructure/investigation-into-metas-compliance-with-statutory-requests-for-information
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/legal&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aXP9kCxKUgfwiUgmI0xgxwAAAkU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/legal&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aXP9kCxKUgfwiUgmI0xgxwAAAkU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/legal&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aXP9kCxKUgfwiUgmI0xgxwAAAkU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/21/ftc_to_drag_meta_back/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/20/uk_gambling_comission_criticizes_meta/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/16/meta_quest_horizon_workrooms/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/11/infosec_news_in_brief/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/16/eu_investigates_meta_over_its/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/20/uk_gambling_comission_criticizes_meta/
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/legal&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aXP9kCxKUgfwiUgmI0xgxwAAAkU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/