UK Investigates TikTok, Reddit Over Children's Data Practices
Britain's Information Commissioner's Office has launched an investigation into TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur over their handling of children's personal data.
The Information Commissioner's Office is examining how TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, uses the personal information of users aged 13 to 17 to suggest content. Reddit and Imgur are being investigated for their methods of assessing the age of child users.
"If we find there is sufficient evidence that any of these companies have broken the law, we will put this to them and obtain their representations before reaching a final conclusion," the ICO said in a statement.
In 2023, the ICO fined TikTok GBP 12.7 million (USD 16 million) for breaching data protection laws by using the personal data of children under 13 without parental consent.
A Reddit spokesperson said the company is working closely with the ICO and intends to comply with all relevant regulations. "Most of our users are adults, but we have plans to roll out changes this year that address updates to UK regulations around age assurance," the spokesperson said.
ByteDance, TikTok, and Imgur have not responded to requests for comment.
The UK has introduced stricter regulations for social media platforms, requiring them to prevent children from accessing harmful content by enforcing age limits and verification measures. Proposed measures also mandate platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to adjust their algorithms to filter or downgrade harmful material.
The UK ICO is investigating TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur over children's data practices.
TikTok is being examined for how it uses data from users aged 13 to 17.
Reddit and Imgur are under scrutiny for their age verification processes.
Source: REUTERS