LONDON: The UK’s data regulator has imposed a £14 million fine on the social media platform Reddit for failing to protect the privacy of children using its platform.
According to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), Reddit did not adequately safeguard the personal information of underage users, potentially exposing children to inappropriate or harmful content.
The ICO’s investigation found that Reddit failed to implement effective age-verification mechanisms, putting minors at risk.
The regulator noted that the platform had no robust system to confirm users’ ages and therefore had no legal justification for processing personal data of users under 13.
The fine underscores growing scrutiny of social media platforms’ responsibility to protect young users and ensure compliance with data protection laws.
