The UK’s privacy watchdog has launched investigations into three social media companies over how they go about protecting the privacy of children on their respective platforms. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) announced today that it’s looking into how TikTok uses personal information of 13-17-year-olds to recommend videos, “in light of growing concerns” around how young […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
The U.K.'s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched investigations into TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur to examine how they protect the privacy of children on their platforms. The probe into TikTok focuses on how it uses personal information of 13- to 17-year-olds to recommend videos, particularly in light of concerns about harmful content. Reddit and Imgur are being investigated for how they assess the age of users in the U.K. and use children’s personal information. The ICO is assessing potential data protection law infringements. This investigation is part of broader efforts by the U.K. government to ensure compliance with privacy regulations. In 2023, the ICO fined TikTok $16 million for providing services to children under 13 without explicit parental consent.
