The UK’s data privacy regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), has imposed a substantial fine of nearly $20 million on Reddit for mishandling children’s personal information, as reported by mint – technology. The ICO found that Reddit’s failures led to the unlawful collection and use of children’s data under the age of 13, potentially exposing minors to inappropriate content.
The regulator criticized Reddit’s insufficient age verification procedures, noting the absence of mechanisms to verify users’ ages until July 2025. While Reddit later introduced age verification measures, such as requesting users to declare their age during account setup, the watchdog highlighted the ease of bypassing this self-declaration.
Emphasizing the importance of safeguarding children online, Information Commissioner John Edwards stated that platforms accessed by minors must implement effective age assurance measures to mitigate risks associated with data use.
Despite Reddit’s intention to appeal the decision, the company has asserted its commitment to user confidentiality regardless of age.
Source: mint – technology