Reddit (RDDT) has been issued a roughly 14.5 million pound ($19.5 million) fine by the UK's Information Commissioner's Office for allegedly failing to use children's personal information 'lawfully.'

The regulator said a probe found Reddit allegedly did not use a "robust age assurance mechanism and therefore did not have a lawful basis for processing the personal information of children under the age of 13."

The ICO also said Reddit did not "carry out a data protection impact assessment" to "assess and mitigate risks to children before January 2025."

"These failures meant Reddit was using children's data unlawfully, potentially exposing them to inappropriate and harmful content," the regulator alleged.

Reddit didn't immediately respond to a request for comment by MT Newswires.