UK Fines Reddit $19 Million for Unlawful Use of Children's Data

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UK Regulator Imposes $19 Million Fine for Unlawful Use of Children’s Data

The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has levied a substantial fine of £14.47 million (approximately $19.5 million) against a prominent online platform for its failure to adequately safeguard the personal data of children under the age of 13.

Failure to Implement Robust Age-Verification System

According to the ICO, the platform’s terms of service explicitly prohibited users under 13, yet it did not implement a robust age-verification system until July 2025. This oversight allowed a significant number of underage children to access the platform, where their data was processed without a lawful basis, potentially exposing them to harmful content.

Introduction of Age Assurance Measures

In July 2025, the platform introduced age assurance measures, including an age verification system for accessing mature content and a self-declaration prompt for new accounts. However, the ICO criticized these measures as inadequate, stating that children could easily bypass them.

ICO’s Investigation and Fine

The ICO’s investigation found that the platform’s failure to protect children’s personal data was a clear breach of UK data protection standards. UK Information Commissioner John Edwards expressed concern over the platform’s negligence, stating:

“Children under 13 had their personal information collected and used in ways they could not understand, consent to, or control. This is unacceptable and has resulted in today’s fine.”

Edwards also emphasized the need for companies to take responsibility for protecting children’s data, urging industry leaders to review their practices and make necessary improvements.

“Relying on users to declare their age themselves is not enough when children may be at risk,”

Platform’s Response

In response to the fine, a spokesperson for the platform stated that the company would appeal the decision, citing external market research that suggests the majority of its users in the UK are adults. The spokesperson also emphasized the company’s commitment to user privacy and safety, arguing that the ICO’s insistence on collecting more private information on every UK user is counterintuitive.

Recent Penalties for Children’s Privacy Failures

This fine is the latest in a series of penalties issued by the ICO for children’s privacy failures. Last month, the regulator fined MediaLab, the owner of the image-sharing platform Imgur, for similar breaches. The platform in question boasts 121 million daily active users and over 471 million weekly active users, spread across more than 100,000 active communities.