The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched investigations into TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur regarding their handling of minors’ personal data. The probe focuses on how these platforms process data from users aged 13 to 17 and their compliance with data protection regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Children’s Code.
The ICO will specifically examine TikTok’s data practices, scrutinizing how the platform uses personal information to recommend content to young users. The investigation also targets Reddit and Imgur, questioning how these US-based platforms assess the age of underage users in the UK and safeguard their data.
John Edwards, the UK Information Commissioner, emphasized that online platforms must take responsibility for protecting children’s privacy and ensuring compliance with data laws. “The responsibility to keep children safe online lies firmly at the door of the companies offering these services,” Edwards said. “My office is committed to holding them to account.”
In recent years, TikTok has faced multiple fines over its data practices. In 2023, the Irish Data Protection Commission fined TikTok €345 million for violating GDPR by mishandling children’s data. The UK ICO also fined TikTok £12.7 million (€14.5 million) in April 2023 for similar violations related to children’s data misuse.
Under UK data protection laws, platforms must adhere to strict rules regarding the processing of personal data from minors. Specifically, platforms must ensure that the processing of children’s data is in the child’s best interest, providing them with specific privacy protections.
Recent surveys by the ICO reveal that nearly 42% of UK parents feel they have limited or no control over the data platforms collect about their children. The ongoing investigations underscore the ICO’s commitment to safeguarding children’s online privacy and ensuring that tech giants comply with privacy regulations.
The outcome of these investigations could lead to significant changes in how TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur handle underage users’ data, potentially prompting stronger privacy protections for young people across the UK.