Reddit fined in Great Britain for faulty age verification

The British data protection authority has fined Reddit 14.47 million pounds (equivalent to almost 16.6 million euros) because the online platform is said to have unlawfully processed children's data from May 2018 to July 2025 due to insufficient age verification. Reddit only introduced age verification in Great Britain in July last year, due to new British youth protection laws primarily aimed at porn providers. Reddit has already announced that it will appeal the multimillion pound fine.

In mid-2023, the British government had already announced that it would tighten youth protection on the internet. The „Online Safety Bill“ was intended to make age verification for pornography mandatory. This also affects online services such as social networks that distribute pornographic content. This law came into force in July 2025. In addition to porn providers like Pornhub and Co., Reddit has therefore also introduced age verification in Great Britain. However, the multimillion pound fine now imposed relates to the seven years prior.

Children's data unlawfully processed

The British "Information Commissioner's Office" (ICO), the data protection authority of Great Britain, explains the multi-million pound fine by stating that Reddit unlawfully processed the data of children under 13 because their age was not sufficiently verified before using the platform. This would have endangered the children through "inappropriate and harmful content." The multimillion pound fine is intended to further improve children's data protection on the internet.

"It is concerning that a company of Reddit's size has failed to meet its legal obligation to protect children's personal data in Great Britain," says John Edwards, the UK's Information Commissioner. Large online platforms are responsible for protecting user data, especially that of children. "To do this, they must be sure they know their users' ages and have appropriate and effective age verification measures in place," Edwards continued. "Reddit has failed to meet these expectations."

Reddit plans to appeal multi-million pound fine

Reddit requires a minimum age of 13 years to use the platform, but according to the data protection authority, this is not sufficiently checked. Estimates suggest to the data protectionists that "a large number of children under 13 were on the platform." This would mean that Reddit processed children's data without a legal basis.

In a statement to the BBC, Reddit stated that it "does not ask users for their identity, regardless of age, as we are deeply committed to protecting their privacy and security." The company intends to appeal the ICO's decision. Because "the ICO's demand to collect more private information about every user in Great Britain is counterproductive and contrary to our firm belief in the online privacy and security of our users."

(fds)