The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK data protection authority, has opened an investigation into TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur.
Algorithms under surveillance
As social networks capture an increasing share of young people's screen time, the question of their exposure to potentially harmful content is constantly being raised. The algorithms of TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur, designed to maximize engagement, pose a problem: by analyzing and anticipating user preferences, they can amplify the visibility of content unsuitable for minors.
John Edwards, Information Commissioner The UK's information agency is concerned about the risks associated with these automated recommendations. According to him, some platforms could encourage addictive practices or expose teenagers to harmful ideas, calling into question their responsibility to protect minors.
TikTok, an already heavy liability
Of the three platforms concerned, TikTok is the most familiar to regulators. In 2023, the application was fined €15 million for illegally collecting children's data without parental consent. A stark reminder that compliance with child protection regulations remains a challenge for the ByteDance subsidiary.
The concerns are not new: in the United States, TikTok was temporarily banned under the Trump administration, officially for national security reasons. While that ban has since been lifted, concerns about data handling and vulnerability young users persist.
A still fragile legislative framework
Since 2021, the ICO's Children's Code has imposed strict rules on platforms to ensure the safety of minors online. Age verification, restrictions on data collection, and privacy protection are at the heart of these requirements. However, compliance with these measures remains unclear and their application uneven.
The ongoing investigation aims to evaluate the effectiveness age verification mechanisms implemented by TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur. One of the major challenges lies in their ability to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content. This question becomes even more critical as young Internet users explore platforms where moderation often remains in the background.
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