Reddit fined nearly $20 million by UK online privacy regulator for 'using children’s data unlawfully, potentially exposing them to inappropriate and harmful content'
PC Gamer
by Andy Chalk February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has fined Reddit £14.5 million ($19.6 million) for failing to protect children's personal data, potentially exposing them to inappropriate and harmful content. The ICO investigation revealed that Reddit lacked a robust age assurance mechanism, allowing underage users' data to be processed unlawfully. The platform did not conduct a required Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) before January 2025, which could have mitigated risks to children. Although Reddit introduced age verification measures in July 2025, the ICO criticized these as insufficient due to reliance on self-declaration, which is easy to bypass.
The ICO highlighted that children under 13 were particularly vulnerable, as their personal information was collected and used without proper consent or control, potentially exposing them to harmful content. This failure to meet legal obligations has led to one of the largest fines imposed by the UK regulator for data protection breaches involving children. The ruling underscores the importance of age assurance measures in online platforms, especially those accessed by minors. The ICO emphasized that companies must ensure they know their users' ages and implement effective safeguards to protect children
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Originally published on PC Gamer on 2/24/2026