Reddit Hit With £14.5M Fine By Uk Watchdog Over Age Check Lapses

Reddit Faces Hefty Fine for Age Verification Failures

The UK's Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has slapped Reddit with a £14.5 million ($19.6 million) fine for not adequately verifying the ages of its users. According to the ICO, Reddit's lapse in age checks led to the illegal use of children's personal data, potentially exposing them to inappropriate content.

ICO's Investigation and Findings

The ICO's investigation unveiled that prior to July 2025, Reddit did not have a strong age assurance mechanism in place. This oversight meant that the platform unlawfully processed the data of children under 13, violating UK regulations. Despite Reddit's introduction of an age verification system in July 2025, the ICO remains wary, noting the company still depends on self-declared ages from users when setting up accounts.

“Our investigation found that Reddit failed to apply any robust age assurance mechanism and therefore did not have a lawful basis for processing the personal information of children under the age of 13," stated the ICO.

Reddit's Response and Privacy Commitment

Reddit has announced its intention to appeal the fine, arguing that the ICO's demands for more stringent data collection are contradictory to its privacy-first ethos. In a statement, Reddit emphasized its dedication to user privacy and safety, criticizing the ICO's stance for requiring more personal information from UK users.

The platform reiterated its privacy policy, highlighting its minimal user data collection approach. Reddit maintains that it does not require real names for account creation, does not track user locations, and supports anonymous browsing, aligning with its commitment to user privacy.