4chan/Kiwifarms lawsuit against OFCOM dismissed for lack of jurisdiction
5 hours ago
- The U.S. District Court dismissed claims against UK's Ofcom on sovereign immunity grounds, not on the merits of constitutional violations.
- The Court noted American courts generally refuse to enforce foreign judgments violating the U.S. Constitution, and penal judgments may not be enforced.
- Ofcom successfully argued sovereign immunity, avoiding a merits fight, and will not collect fines or compel compliance from 4chan or Lolcow.
- Ofcom's threats have a 98% compliance rate among U.S. targets, effectively censoring American speech without legal review.
- The Court stated that only Congress can remedy this by amending the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.
- Two federal bills—the GRANITE Act (H.R. 10174) and the HOMEFRONT Act (H.R. 10309)—and state-level shield laws aim to protect Americans from foreign censorship.
- The ruling leaves foreign regulators immune from U.S. court jurisdiction while threatening American citizens, prompting calls for urgent congressional action.