Reddit fined £14m over major children’s data failures | The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload ourSocial PartnerWe are 8 logo (opens in a new tab)AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAndrew GriffinTuesday 24 February 2026 12:33 GMTReddit Earnings BeatReddit has been fined over £14 million by the UK's data watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).The fine was issued because Reddit failed to adequately protect the personal information of children using its platform.The ICO found that Reddit did not implement robust age assurance mechanisms, meaning it lacked a lawful basis for processing data of users under 13.This failure potentially exposed children to inappropriate and harmful content, as relying on users to declare their age was deemed insufficient.UK information commissioner John Edwards emphasised that companies operating online services accessed by children must ensure effective age assurance measures are in place to protect them.In fullReddit hit with £14m fine after children’s privacy failuresThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in