Meta Fined $597,000 by UK Regulator Over WhatsApp Data Errors

The penalty, announced Thursday by the Office of Communications, known as Ofcom, follows an investigation into data Meta supplied during a review of the UK’s business messaging market, according to Reuters.

The regulator found that Meta had provided inaccurate figures on multiple occasions, including information concerning messaging volumes and revenue associated with its business communications platform. Some discrepancies remained uncorrected for as long as 11 months, Reuters reported.

The findings raise questions about the reliability of information supplied by major technology companies to authorities responsible for monitoring increasingly interconnected digital communications markets.

Regulatory Review Exposes Reporting Problems

The enforcement action stems from Ofcom’s examination of the market for bulk business text messages, a service commonly used by companies to send appointment reminders, delivery notifications and other automated communications.

As part of its work, the regulator sought information about alternative messaging platforms, including WhatsApp Business, to assess the competitive environment and better understand the services available to commercial users.

Meta’s responses contained repeated inaccuracies, according to the findings reported by Reuters. The errors complicated the regulator’s efforts to gather dependable market information.

Ofcom had formally opened an investigation into Meta’s compliance in January 2026, examining whether the company had fulfilled its legal obligations to provide complete and accurate information under the Communications Act 2003.

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The regulator had issued formal information requests in July 2024 and June 2025, seeking data relevant to its monitoring of business messaging services and its review of wholesale application-to-person SMS termination.

WhatsApp’s Expanding Role in Business Communications

The case draws attention to WhatsApp’s position in a communications market traditionally dominated by mobile network operators and conventional SMS services.

WhatsApp Business allows companies to communicate with customers through the messaging platform, providing an alternative to traditional text messaging for commercial interactions.

For regulators examining competition in this sector, accurate information about message traffic and revenue is important for assessing how businesses use different communications channels.

Ofcom’s investigation focused on Meta’s compliance with information requests rather than allegations of misconduct involving the content of WhatsApp messages or the company’s treatment of customers.

The distinction underscores the significance of regulatory disclosure obligations, which allow authorities to evaluate markets using information that may not otherwise be publicly available.

Increased Attention to Corporate Compliance

The financial penalty represents another example of British authorities using enforcement powers to hold major technology companies accountable for their regulatory obligations.

Although the fine is relatively modest for a company of Meta’s scale, the action demonstrates the potential consequences of providing incomplete or inaccurate information during official market examinations.

When Ofcom announced its investigation in January, Meta said it took its regulatory responsibilities seriously and committed substantial resources to responding to official requests. The company also said it would cooperate with the inquiry, according to Reuters’ earlier reporting.