Core Viewpoint - The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is investigating TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur regarding their use of teenage users' personal information, particularly focusing on data protection and the potential risks associated with content recommendations for users aged 13 to 17 [1][2]. Group 1: Investigation Focus - The ICO's investigation will assess how TikTok utilizes information from teenage users to deliver content recommendations [1][3]. - For Reddit and Imgur, the focus will be on their age assurance measures, including how they estimate and verify children's ages and the use of personal information [2][6]. - The regulator is responding to concerns about social media platforms' data usage and the risk of exposing young users to harmful content through recommendation algorithms [2][4]. Group 2: Algorithm and Content Concerns - TikTok's algorithm, which powers the For You Page, has been criticized for suggesting harmful content, such as eating disorders and self-harm, to new teen accounts shortly after they join [3][4]. - The ICO aims to ensure that the processes used by these platforms are robust enough to protect children from potential harm, including addictive practices and inappropriate content [4][5]. - The Information Commissioner, John Edwards, emphasized that the investigation is not targeting TikTok specifically but is motivated by the platform's growth among young users and the associated risks [5][6]. Group 3: Regulatory Process - The ICO will investigate potential data protection infringements and will seek input from the platforms if evidence of breaches is found before reaching a conclusion [6]. - The regulator hopes to derive lessons from these investigations that can be applied across the industry to enhance data protection practices [6].
TikTok and Reddit investigated over use of children's data