Reddit faces a hefty fine in the United Kingdom. The British Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has imposed a penalty of 14.47 million pounds on the platform, which is approximately 16 million euros.
According to the data protection authority ICO, Reddit unlawfully processed personal data of children, such as their names, email addresses, or usage behavior, between May 2018 and July 2025. The decisive factor, according to the authority, was inadequate age verification, which allowed minors to use the platform without their age being reliably checked.
Self-Disclosure Was Not Enough for the Authority
Reddit’s terms of service require a minimum age of 13 years. However, for years, the verification largely relied on self-disclosure. Users had to provide their age themselves.
From the authority’s perspective, this was insufficient. It was not ensured that children below the age limit were actually excluded. Consequently, personal data of those under 13 were processed without a valid legal basis. This exposed the children to “inappropriate and harmful content.”
Online Safety Act Tightens Regulations
Political pressure on platform operators had already increased. In mid-2023, the British government announced plans to significantly tighten online youth protection. In July 2025, the so-called “Online Safety Act” came into effect. It mandates compulsory age verification for pornographic content. This applies not only to traditional porn sites but also to services where such content is accessible.
Age Verification Only Came in 2025
In response to these new regulations, Reddit also introduced age verification in the UK. However, according to the authority, this does not change the previous shortcomings. The imposed multi-million pound fine explicitly refers to the seven years prior. During this time, no effective protective mechanisms were implemented.
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Reddit Announces Appeal
Reddit announced plans to challenge the decision. The company argued to the “BBC” that stricter age controls would require further collection of sensitive personal data. This conflicts with its commitment to data minimization, where the company aims to collect and store only as much personal information as absolutely necessary.
They want to protect users’ privacy and process as little personal information as possible. Whether the fine will stand at this amount is likely to be determined by a possible further legal proceeding.
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