The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has launched an investigation into how TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur handle children's personal data. The probe aims to determine whether these platforms comply with data protection laws and adequately safeguard the privacy of young users.
The ICO is particularly concerned about how TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, uses the personal information of 13-17-year-olds to suggest content in their feeds. The investigation will also examine how Reddit and Imgur assess the age of their child users and ensure compliance with age-related regulations.
"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.
This investigation follows previous actions by the ICO, including a £12.7 million fine imposed on TikTok in 2023 for breaching data protection laws by using the personal data of children under 13 without parental consent. The ICO's efforts are part of a broader initiative to enforce stricter rules for social media platforms, ensuring they prevent children from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content by enforcing age limits and age-checking measures.