The U.K.’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched an investigation into how TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur handle children’s personal data and whether they are adequately protecting minors aged 13 to 17. The ICO’s inquiry focuses on the ByteDance-owned TikTok, specifically examining how the platform uses data from this age group to personalize content recommendations in users’ feeds. With concerns rising over how social media and video-sharing platforms collect and process children’s data, the ICO is probing whether these practices may expose young users to potentially harmful or inappropriate content.
This investigation comes at a time when there is increasing scrutiny on platforms that use children’s online activity to drive their content recommendation algorithms.
The ICO’s investigation also extends to Imgur and Reddit, two other prominent platforms, with the goal of understanding how they handle children’s data, particularly how they assess the age of their users and how content is tailored based on this information. The regulator is keen to explore whether these platforms comply with existing data protection laws designed to safeguard minors. The ICO is specifically looking into whether these services are respecting children’s privacy rights and whether their age-verification systems are robust enough to prevent the misuse of personal data.
If any infringements of data protection laws are found, the ICO plans to share evidence with the companies and allow them to make representations before any final decisions are made.
John Edwards, the U.K. Information Commissioner, underscored that the responsibility for ensuring the safety and privacy of children online rests firmly with the companies providing these services. He stressed that the ICO is unwavering in its commitment to hold these companies accountable for any lapses in protecting children’s data. The investigation signals a broader effort by the ICO to protect the rights of young people in the digital age, with the regulator emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability when it comes to how platforms handle minors’ information. Edwards also highlighted that this area remains a high priority for the ICO, signaling further actions may be taken depending on the outcome of the investigations.
This investigation is a direct response to the enforcement of the Children’s Code, which came into effect in September 2021. The Children’s Code established clear guidelines for how online services should treat children’s data, including specific rules on how to collect, process, and store such data. Since the enforcement of this code, some platforms have already made significant changes to their policies. For example, X (formerly Twitter) has stopped targeting ads to users under 18 and disabled geolocation-sharing features for minors. Similarly, Viber has taken steps to disable personalized advertising for children to comply with the new regulations. As the ICO continues to investigate TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur, it remains clear that these measures are part of a broader effort to hold digital platforms accountable for their treatment of children’s personal information.
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