Reddit penalised £14m for failing child age verification

Reddit has been hit with a £14.47m fine by the UK's data authority for improperly managing children's personal data.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) stated that Reddit neglected to accurately verify the age of its users, endangering children on the platform who might encounter unsuitable and harmful online content.

"It's alarming that a company as large as Reddit didn't fulfill its legal obligation to safeguard the personal data of children in the UK," remarked John Edwards, the UK Information Commissioner.

In a response, Reddit noted it "did not demand users disclose details about themselves, regardless of their age, because of our strong commitment to privacy and safety."

The ICO reported the fine was imposed due to "failures" identified between May 5, 2018, and July 8, 2025, during which Reddit unlawfully processed children's data under the age of 13.

The authority stated that online services accessible to children must ensure their protection, specifically by guaranteeing their data collection and usage practices do not expose children to risks.

"To achieve this, they must confidently ascertain user ages and implement effective age verification methods," said Edwards.

"Reddit didn't fulfill these requirements."

On July 8, 2025, Reddit started implementing age verification for its users to align with the Online Safety Act (OSA) standards.

However, the ICO noted that Reddit depended on users self-reporting their age when creating an account—a method it described as "easily circumvented"—and mentioned ongoing monitoring of the situation.

The ICO initially began its investigation into the platform last March, alongside platforms like TikTok and Imgur, due to concerns about handling children's data.