Reddit under fire: UK watchdog imposes massive fine over failures involving data of children under 13

The UK’s data privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office, issued a major fine to Reddit, marking a significant move against the company’s failure to protect children. The investigation revealed that children under age 13 had their personal information collected and used in ways they could not understand, consent to or control.

Reddit has been fined more than €17 million by the UK’s information watchdog, which accused the social media giant of failing to protect children. The platform relied on self-declaration, allowing users to simply state their age without providing further proof.

In this connection, the Information Commissioner's Office stated that Reddit’s failings potentially exposed children to inappropriate content. This revelation highlights a lack of oversight that allowed the personal data of children under 13 to be vulnerable to unlawful use.

“Children under 13 had their personal information collected and used in ways they could not understand, consent to control.” said John Edwards, UK Information Commissioner.

According to Euronews, Reddit said in a statement that the platform "doesn't require users to share information about their identities regardless of age, because we are deeply committed to their privacy and safety.”

The fine serves as a stark warning for other social media platforms operating in the UK. It is crucial to safeguard the private information of every user, regardless of the challenges.