The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched an investigation into TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur over their handling of children’s data and enforcement of age restrictions on their platforms.
The probe will scrutinize whether TikTok, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, processes the personal data of users aged 13 to 17 in a way that affects content recommendations. Additionally, it will examine how Reddit and Imgur verify the ages of young users and what measures they have in place to shield them from harmful content.
“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 stated.
Social media platforms have faced increasing scrutiny over their reliance on algorithms to curate content, raising concerns about potential exposure of minors to inappropriate material. The UK has recently introduced stricter regulations to prevent underage access to harmful content and strengthen age-verification systems.
TikTok has faced regulatory action in the past. In 2023, the ICO fined the platform £12.7 million for unlawfully processing data from children under 13 without parental consent. A TikTok spokesperson defended the platform’s current content recommendation system, insisting that it operates with “strict and comprehensive measures that protect the privacy and safety of teens.”
Reddit, which has been in dialogue with the ICO, acknowledged that while most of its users are adults, it is making adjustments to comply with UK 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,” a Reddit spokesperson said.
The ICO emphasized that no final conclusions have been drawn yet. However, companies found to be in violation of data protection laws could face enforcement actions, including fines.