The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has imposed a £14.5 million ($19.6 million) fine on Reddit for insufficient age verification measures, leading to the unlawful processing of children’s personal data. The ICO’s investigation revealed that Reddit lacked a robust age assurance mechanism, resulting in the unauthorized use of data from users under 13 years old. This failure potentially exposed minors to inappropriate and harmful content.
Reddit introduced an age verification system in July 2025, requiring UK users to confirm their age before accessing adult content. However, the ICO remains concerned about the effectiveness of this system, as it relies on users self-declaring their age during account creation. The regulator emphasizes the need for more stringent age verification processes to protect children’s privacy and safety online.
This enforcement action underscores the ICO’s commitment to ensuring that online platforms implement adequate measures to safeguard minors. Organizations are urged to adopt comprehensive age verification systems to comply with data protection laws and prevent the misuse of children’s personal information.