US lawyer Preston Byrne, who represents 4chan, said on X that Ofcom had sent payment details and demanded the penalty be settled, adding: “We replied with a hamster. Again.”

The exchange follows Ofcom’s decision to fine 4chan £520,000 for failing to introduce age checks, conduct an illegal content risk assessment and explain how it would protect users from criminal content.

In a response to the regulator, 4chan argued it had no UK assets and said enforcement would require Ofcom to pursue the matter in a US court. The letter concluded: “In the words of Michael Jackson, just beat it.”

4chan has refused to pay, arguing it operates from the US and is protected by the First Amendment. The dispute has become a test of the UK’s ability to enforce online safety rules against overseas platforms.