Reddit has been fined greater than £14m by the Data Commissioner’s Workplace for failing to maintain kids secure.
It’s the largest superb ever handed out by the knowledge watchdog over kids’s privateness points.
An investigation by the information safety watchdog discovered the US firm used kids’s data unlawfully.
An announcement from the ICO mentioned Reddit’s failings included not checking the age of customers accessing its platform, placing children in danger.
It mentioned Reddit did not:
• Apply any sturdy age assurance mechanism and subsequently didn’t have a lawful foundation for processing the private data of kids beneath the age of 13.
• Perform a knowledge safety affect evaluation (DPIA) to evaluate and mitigate dangers to kids earlier than January 2025.
John Edwards, UK Data Commissioner, mentioned: “It is regarding that an organization the dimensions of Reddit failed in its authorized responsibility to guard the private data of UK kids.
“Kids beneath 13 had their private data collected and utilized in methods they may not perceive, consent to or management. That left them doubtlessly uncovered to content material they need to not have seen. That is unacceptable and has resulted in right this moment’s superb.
“Let me be clear. Corporations working on-line companies more likely to be accessed by kids have a accountability to guard these kids by making certain they don’t seem to be uncovered to dangers by way of the way in which their knowledge is used. To do that, they should be assured they know the age of their customers and have applicable, efficient age assurance measures in place.
“Reddit failed to satisfy these expectations. They have to do higher and we’re persevering with to think about the age assurance controls now carried out by the platform.
“Counting on customers to declare their age themselves just isn’t sufficient when kids could also be in danger and we’re focusing now on firms which are primarily utilizing this methodology. I subsequently strongly encourage trade to take word, replicate on their practices and urgently make any mandatory enhancements to their platforms.”
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Reddit advised Sky Information it intends to enchantment the ICO’s resolution.
“Reddit would not require customers to share details about their identities, no matter age, as a result of we’re deeply dedicated to their privateness and security,” mentioned a Reddit spokesperson.
“The ICO’s insistence that we acquire extra non-public data on each UK consumer is counterintuitive and at odds with our robust perception in our customers’ on-line privateness and security.”
Earlier this month, Imgur proprietor MediaLab was handed a £250,000 superb for comparable points.
In 2023, TikTok ended up with a £12.7m superb after negotiating the ICO down from a £27m penalty.
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