UK Regulator Fines Reddit £14.47m for Inadequate Child Age Verification Measures

Reddit has been fined £14.47 million by the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for unlawfully processing children’s personal data and failing to implement effective age verification measures. The regulator concluded that the platform did not properly assess or verify the ages of its users, which increased the risk of children being exposed to inappropriate or harmful content. According to the ICO, Reddit relied primarily on users self-declaring their age when creating an account, a method the authority described as easy to bypass and insufficient under UK data protection standards.

The fine follows regulatory scrutiny under the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA), which requires online services likely to be accessed by children to introduce stronger safeguards. Although Reddit began implementing age verification checks in July 2025 to align with the new legal framework, the ICO determined that earlier practices failed to meet the required standards for protecting children’s data.

UK Information Commissioner John Edwards stated that companies of Reddit’s size and influence are expected to uphold strict responsibilities when handling children’s information. He emphasized that platforms must be confident in knowing their users’ ages and must deploy effective age assurance systems to reduce risks.

In response, Reddit defended its approach, arguing that it intentionally minimized data collection to protect user privacy. A company spokesperson said the ICO’s expectation that it collect additional private information from UK users conflicts with its commitment to privacy and safety. Reddit has announced its intention to appeal the decision.

The ICO indicated that it is continuing to review Reddit’s updated age assurance measures and expects the company to strengthen its compliance efforts moving forward.