Britain’s data protection watchdog has fined Reddit £14.5m ($19.5m) for failing to protect children’s personal data and potentially exposing them to harmful content.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said the US-based platform did not properly verify users’ ages and failed to carry out a required child risk assessment before January 2025.
“These failures meant Reddit was using children’s data unlawfully,” the regulator said, adding that young users may have been exposed to inappropriate material.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe watchdog opened its investigation in March 2025, examining the company’s age-checking systems and how it handled personal information.
It found that although Reddit bans children under 13, it had no effective measures to verify users’ ages until July 2025. As a result, children’s data may have been collected and used in ways they could not understand or control.
UK Information Commissioner John Edwards said the findings raised concerns about how platforms relying on self-declared ages protect younger users online.
Reddit said it plans to appeal the fine. A spokesperson added that the platform does not require users to share identity information, citing privacy and safety concerns.
READ ALSO:
UK Factories Warn High Energy Costs Are Driving Businesses Overseas
Starmer, Trump Discuss Ukraine Peace Talks, Iran Nuclear Negotiations, Gaza Aid
UK-Based Nigerian Footballer Dies After Suffering Severe Brain Injury
The ICO said it would continue monitoring Reddit’s compliance as part of wider efforts to regulate online platforms.
The case comes as the UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, steps up plans to improve online safety for children, including proposals to restrict social media access for under-16s.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
