The UK data protection watchdog has said it plans to fine social media platform Imgur following a six-month investigation of its use of children’s data.
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The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said today that it reached provisional findings in its investigation of MediaLab AI subsidiary Imgur and handed it a notice of intent to impose a monetary penalty on 10 September. The regulator had on 3 March revealed that it was looking into Imgur, TikTok and Reddit over their use of children’s personal data and approach to age assurance.
The ICO’s statement follows reports that the US-based image sharing platform is currently unavailable to users in the UK. Imgur’s decision to restrict access in the UK “is a commercial decision taken by the company,” the regulator said today. It is not yet clear whether Imgur’s departure is linked to the enforcement action.
But the ICO said leaving the UK does not mean the platform can escape liability, arguing that such organisations cannot avoid responsibility for any prior data protection infringements.
“Our investigation remains ongoing,” ICO interim executive director Tim Capel said in a statement. “Our findings are provisional and the ICO will carefully consider any representations from MediaLab before taking a final decision whether to issue a monetary penalty.”
Capel emphasised the importance of safeguarding children’s personal information, which he said is a key priority for the regulator. “Keeping children safe online is the responsibility of the companies offering online services to them and we will continue to hold them to account”, he added.
The ICO has not provided any updates on the TikTok and Reddit investigations.
US-based companies have been increasingly concerned about intensifying UK online safety and child data protection rules.
The US Federal Trade Commission had on 21 August sent letters to large tech companies warning them that they may violate US law if they censor Americans’ data to comply with the laws and demands of other governments, including the UK and the EU. In addition online forums 4chan and Kiwi Farms have alleged that the UK’s Online Safety Act violates free speech and is an “egregious violation of Americans’ civil rights” in a complaint seeking to block enforcement by Ofcom.
Imgur did not respond to a request for comment.