Investigation into TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur Over Teenage User Data
The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has announced an investigation into TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur regarding their handling of data from teenage users. This scrutiny arises from increasing concerns about the potential risks of exposing children to harmful content online. The ICO’s primary focus is on how TikTok processes the personal information of users aged 13 to 17 in order to tailor content recommendations.
In addition to TikTok, the investigations concerning Reddit and Imgur will examine how these platforms utilize children’s personal data and the effectiveness of their age assurance measures. These measures include methods for estimating or verifying a child’s age, which are crucial for customizing the user experience on these platforms.
As social media platforms increasingly rely on data generated by children’s online activities to enhance their recommendation algorithms, the ICO’s actions reflect a growing urgency to protect young users from inappropriate or potentially harmful content. In 2021, the ICO introduced a children’s code aimed at online privacy, mandating that companies take significant steps to safeguard the personal information of minors using their services.
John Edwards, the Information Commissioner, expressed to the PA news agency that while the ICO anticipates discovering many positive safety measures in place on these platforms during the investigation, it is essential to evaluate whether their processes are sufficiently robust. He stated:
“It’s what they’re collecting, it’s how they work. I expect to find that there will be many benign and positive uses of children’s data in their recommender systems.”
Edwards further elaborated, saying:
“I would expect to find elements designed to keep children safe and ensure they are exposed only to appropriate content, which is undoubtedly a positive aspect. However, my concern lies in whether these measures are strong enough to prevent children from experiencing harm, whether through addictive practices on these platforms or exposure to unsuitable content.”
The ICO’s investigations aim to assess any possible infringements of data protection laws. Should they uncover evidence of potential violations, the regulator will present its findings to the platforms involved and seek their input before arriving at a final decision.
While TikTok has become the focal point of this investigation, Edwards emphasized that the ICO is not targeting TikTok specifically, but rather aims to gain insights applicable to the broader social media landscape. He remarked:
“We’ve got to choose one – we can’t spread ourselves too thinly. We’re not picking on TikTok. We hope to learn lessons that the entire industry can adopt.”
