Investigation into the provider of Krakenfiles.

[Future Focus]

Investigation into the provider of Krakenfiles and its compliance with duties to protect its users from illegal content

Investigation into

The provider of Krakenfiles.

Published: 10 June 2025

Last updated: 13 October 2025

Closed

Investigation into

The provider of Krakenfiles.

Case opened

10 June 2025

Case closed

13 October 2025

Summary

We are investigating whether the provider of Krakenfiles has failed/is failing to comply with its duties under the Online Safety Act 2023 to:

respond to a statutory information request;

complete a suitable and sufficient illegal content risk assessment;

make and keep a record of this assessment; and

comply with the safety duties about illegal content which apply in relation to regulated user-to-user services.

Relevant legal provision(s)

Sections 9, 10, 23 and 102(8) of the Online Safety Act 2023

Closing text - 13 October 2025

Ofcom has today closed its investigation into the provider of Krakenfiles’s compliance with its duties under the Online Safety Act 2023 (the ‘Act’). 

On 25 July 2025, Ofcom became aware that the provider of Krakenfiles had taken steps to restrict users with UK IP addresses from accessing the service. This has reduced the likelihood that people in the UK will be exposed to illegal or harmful content that may be present on the service, meaning safer online experiences for them.

Having actively monitored the website since 25 July 2025, Ofcom is now closing this investigation as it is no longer an administrative priority to pursue enforcement action in line with our general approach to enforcement set out below. However, we reserve the right to re-open the investigation into the provider of Krakenfiles if we become aware that the restrictions have not been maintained consistently or the service is promoting ways of avoiding the access restrictions.

Ofcom’s Online Safety Enforcement Guidance sets out how Ofcom will normally approach enforcement under the Act to support the achievement of its statutory objectives, including the adequate protection of UK citizens from harm presented by content on regulated services through the appropriate use by the providers of such regulated services of systems and processes designed to reduce the risk of such harm. We also have regard to the matters in section 3(3) of the Communications Act 2003, which include our regulatory principles that our activities are transparent, accountable, proportionate, consistent, and targeted only at cases in which action is needed.

Ofcom believes its flexible approach to risk assessment and mitigation allows services to take appropriate and proportionate steps to protect UK users from illegal content. Some services might seek to prevent people in the UK from accessing their sites or parts of their sites, such as by blocking access from UK IP addresses, instead of taking steps to protect UK users when using their service. That is their choice.

When considering a service's compliance with the Act where it has restricted access for people with UK IP addresses, Ofcom will monitor the restrictions on a case-by-case basis to assess whether they are maintained consistently and to satisfy itself the service is not promoting ways of avoiding the access restrictions. If a service restricts access to people in the UK, we will consider the presence of the restrictions when assessing whether enforcement action can be expected to result in further improvements in online safety for people in the UK, especially children.

For more information, see Ofcom, Protecting People in the UK from illegal content online: regardless of its origin.

[Megan]

Thanks for sharing, wondered what happened to them