UK ICO fines Reddit £14.5 million over children’s data use

The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) fined Reddit £14.5 million after finding the platform unlawfully processed personal data of children under 13. The investigation revealed that Reddit lacked effective age verification measures and relied on self-declared age checks, which regulators said were insufficient to protect minors.

The ICO also found that Reddit failed to conduct a data protection impact assessment before processing children’s data and exposed young users to potentially harmful content. The regulator stressed that platforms must implement robust safeguards when handling minors’ data and ensure lawful processing under UK GDPR.

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