Link: https://www.euronews.com/next/2026/02/24/reddit-slapped-with-16-million-fine-in-uk-for-failing-to-protect-children

Reddit has been fined more than £14 million (€16 million) by the UK’s information watchdog, accusing the social media giant of failing to protect children and leaving them vulnerable to "inappropriate and harmful content".

Following an investigation, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) found that the American company neglected to implement robust age-verification tools. Reddit told Euronews Next that it intends to appeal the decision.

Instead, Reddit relied heavily on "self-declaration"—allowing users to simply state their age without further proof—a method the watchdog deems insufficient for protecting children.

Failed to protect children or failed to aid the UK government in their dystopian authoritarianism?

"But nobody is going to think of the children!?" Says the billionaries who routinely went to a pedophile island to hurt children.

Seen different sources, some say its about age verifying to protect children from content, others about age verification because they are harvesting data they shouldn't be harvesting on children. What about they shouldn't be fucking data harvesting on anyone?!

Either way, fuck reddit. But I really hope this is just because they are harvesting data that they shouldn't because then at least Lemmy should be safe from this kind of thing by just not harvesting user data. Reddit already requires ID to view NSFW in the UK, so if its "harmful content" I would be kinda curious what that is too.

So far seen more sources that seem to point to this being about data harvesting personal information of children. Which if that is the case, fuck reddit. But also why do only children get their data protected? But also fuck reddit anyway.

No need to fine Facebook or Twitter, they're perfect as they are

(I could use that in so many places...)

neglected to implement robust age-verification tools

So they failed to apply UK draconian adult-surveillance and censorship regulations?

Children under 13 had their personal information collected and used in ways they could not understand, consent to or control

What about adults? Does UK think it's fine to collect data without consent or any control, as long as it's about people older than 13? What about 14 years old? Surely they wouldn't understand what their data is used for either?

In case someone doesn't know, 13 is the minimum age for creating a reddit account, that's why I think UK is fixating on that age, making a fool of themselves in the process.