Reddit fined £14m by UK data watchdog over age check failings

The UK's data watchdog said the failings meant children could be exposed to harmful material online.

24 Feb, 11:46 — 24 Feb, 13:45

Excellent (84/100)

7 sourcesWide spread6 regions

Why this matters

This story highlights the ongoing challenges social media platforms face in protecting vulnerable users, particularly children, from harmful content and data misuse. Regulatory bodies globally are increasing scrutiny on tech companies to ensure compliance with data protection laws and age verification, making this a significant precedent for online safety and corporate accountability.

Perspective Analysis

AI-generated comparison of how 7 sources cover this story

Most outlets report that Reddit has been fined by the UK data watchdog for failing to protect children's personal data and inadequate age verification, which could expose minors to harmful online content. Coverage is largely aligned on the core narrative, with minor differences primarily in the reported fine amount due to currency conversions and rounding.

Political spectrum

LeftCenterRight

guardian

dr-dk

bbc

cyprus-mail

channel-news-asia

la-vanguardia

Outlet rating This story

SourceOutletiGeneral editorial lean of the outletStoryiHow they covered this specific storyTone

The Guardiancenter-leftleftneutralhighlights severity of child privacy breach

dr-dkcentercenter-leftneutralreports on failure to protect children

BBCcentercenterneutralfactual reporting of regulatory action

Coverage leans: balanced

The coverage is largely balanced, with most outlets providing factual reports of the regulatory action and its implications for child safety, while one outlet highlights the severity of the breach.

What sources agree on

Reddit was fined by a UK data or privacy watchdog.
The fine is related to Reddit's failings in protecting children's data or age verification.
These failings could lead to children being exposed to harmful material online.

Where they diverge

The specific monetary amount of the fine reported by outlets.

BBC

This outlet reports the fine as £14 million.

The Guardian

This outlet reports the fine as £14.5 million.

cyprus-mail

This outlet reports the fine as $20 million and also mentions 14.47 million pounds.

channel-news-asia

This outlet reports the fine as $20 million.

la-vanguardia

This outlet reports the fine as 16.6 million euros.

vgdr-dk

These outlets report the fine generically as a 'million fine' or 'large million fine'.

Key claims2 agreed · 3 unverified

✓

Reddit was fined by the UK's data watchdog for age check failings.

agreed·BBCla-vanguardiaThe Guardian

✓

The failings meant children could be exposed to harmful material online.

agreed·la-vanguardiacyprus-mailBBC

Coverage gaps

Reddit's intention to appeal the decision.

Reportedvg

Missingla-vanguardiaThe Guardiancyprus-mail+3

The fine being the largest yet imposed by the ICO for a breach of children’s privacy.

ReportedThe Guardian

Missingla-vanguardiacyprus-mailvg+3

Perspective Analysis

Comparing sources…

How outlets covered this

Left-leaning

The Guardian

Reddit fined £14.5m in UK over use of under-13s’ data

Center

la-vanguardia

Reino Unido multa a Reddit con 16,6 millones de euros por no proteger datos personales de menores

cyprus-mail

Reddit fined $20 million in UK over children’s data failures

UK privacy watchdog fines Reddit $20 million over children’s data failures

Right-leaning

No articles

Key entities

Redditsocial media platform fined UK data watchdogregulatory body imposing the fine Childrenvulnerable users whose data was unprotected

Coverage Timeline

First report: channel-news-asia · 24 Feb, 11:46|Full coverage: All 7 sources within 2h|Window: 2h

Left-leaningCenterRight-leaning

channel-news-asia24 Feb, 11:46First to report

UK privacy watchdog fines Reddit $20 million over children’s data failures

BBC24 Feb, 12:46

Reddit fined £14m by UK data watchdog over age check failings

dr-dk24 Feb, 13:17

Reddit idømt stor millionbøde for ikke at beskytte børn

vg24 Feb, 13:22

Millionbot til Reddit for personvernsbrudd i Storbritannia

cyprus-mail24 Feb, 13:23

Reddit fined $20 million in UK over children’s data failures

The Guardian24 Feb, 13:30

Reddit fined £14.5m in UK over use of under-13s’ data

la-vanguardia24 Feb, 13:45Latest update

Reino Unido multa a Reddit con 16,6 millones de euros por no proteger datos personales de menores

Read at source (7 outlets)

la-vanguardia19m ago

Reino Unido multa a Reddit con 16,6 millones de euros por no proteger datos personales de menores

Una investigación determinó que la plataforma no verifica la edad de los usuarios, lo que pone en riesgo a los niños

By Autor Agencias

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The Guardian33m ago

Reddit fined £14.5m in UK over use of under-13s’ data

Information Commissioner’s Office imposes largest fine yet for a breach of children’s privacy The UK information regulator has fined the social news service Reddit £14.5m for using the data of children under the age of 13 unlawfully and potentially exposing them to inappropriate and harmful content. The hefty punishment from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the largest fine yet for a breach of children’s privacy and comes after the US-based company introduced age checks in July...

By Robert Booth UK technology editor

Read full article →

cyprus-mail40m ago

Reddit fined $20 million in UK over children’s data failures

Britain’s privacy watchdog on Tuesday fined social media platform Reddit 14.47 million pounds for using children’s data unlawfully and potentially exposing them to harmful content. The action comes as Britain considers tighter limits on children’s use of social media, with governments worldwide citing concerns about mental-health risks, cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content to justify […]

Read full article →

vg42m ago