The UK data regulator is currently collecting information regarding Snapchat to determine if the US-based instant messaging service is effectively managing the presence of underage users on its platform, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
In March, Reuters reported that Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, had removed only a small number of children under the age of 13 from its platform in the UK last year, despite estimates from Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, suggesting there are thousands of underage users active on the service.
Under UK data protection legislation, social media companies are required to obtain parental consent prior to processing the data of children younger than 13. Although social media platforms typically set their minimum age limit at 13, many have struggled to effectively prevent younger users from accessing their services.
Snapchat has not disclosed any specific actions it may have undertaken to reduce the number of underage users on its platform.
“We share the goals of the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) to ensure digital platforms are age-appropriate and support the duties outlined in the Children’s Code,” a spokesperson for Snap stated.
The spokesperson also mentioned, “We continue to have constructive discussions with them regarding our ongoing efforts to achieve this.”
Typically, prior to initiating an official investigation, the ICO collects information concerning potential violations. The office may issue an information notice, a formal request for internal data that could assist in the investigation, before deciding whether to impose sanctions on the individual or organization involved.
A report by Ofcom last year indicated that 60 percent of children aged 8 to 11 had at least one social media account, often created using a falsified date of birth. Snapchat was identified as the most popular platform among underage social media users.
Following the Reuters report, the ICO received multiple public complaints regarding Snap’s management of children’s data, according to a source acquainted with the issue.
Some of these complaints cited concerns that Snapchat was not doing enough to prevent young children from accessing its platform, the source noted.
The ICO has engaged with users and consulted with other regulators to evaluate whether Snap has violated any regulations, according to the sources.
An ICO spokesperson informed Reuters that the agency continues to monitor and review the actions taken by Snapchat and other social media companies to inhibit access by underage children.
A decision regarding the potential launch of a formal investigation into Snapchat is expected in the upcoming months, the sources indicated.
REGULATORY PRESSURE
If the ICO determines that Snap has violated its guidelines, the company could incur a financial penalty of up to 4 percent of its annual global revenue. Based on Reuters calculations, this could amount to approximately $184 million (around ₹1,522 crore) based on Snap’s latest financial results.
Globally, Snapchat and other social media platforms are facing increasing scrutiny to improve their content moderation practices.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) reported that Snapchat was involved in 43 percent of cases where social media was utilized to disseminate indecent images of children.
Snapchat has not yet responded to queries regarding this report when reached out to by Reuters.
Earlier this year, the ICO imposed a £12.7 million ($16.2 million) fine on TikTok for improperly handling children’s data, noting that the competing platform failed to take adequate measures to remove underage users.
A TikTok spokesperson stated at the time that the company had “heavily invested” in efforts to prevent children under 13 from joining the platform and that its 40,000 safety team members worked “around the clock” to ensure user safety.
While Snapchat does restrict users from registering with a date of birth that indicates they are under 13, other applications have adopted more stringent measures to block underage children from accessing their platforms. For example, TikTok prevents users who fail to provide a correct date of birth from creating an account.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
