LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Britain’s data regulator is gathering information on Snapchat to determine if the US instant messaging service is taking sufficient steps to block minors from using its services.
Exclusively revealed by Reuters in March, UK media regulator Ofcom thinks that thousands of underage users are using Snapchat, despite the fact that owner Snap removed only a handful of minors under the age of 13 from its platform in Britain last year.
Social media businesses must obtain parental permission before processing children under 13’s personal information, according to UK data protection law.
Users of social media networks must typically be 13 or older; however, companies have had varying degrees of success keeping kids off their services.
Snapchat declined to give details of any measures it might have taken to reduce the number of underage users.
“We share the goals of the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) to ensure digital platforms are age appropriate and support the duties set out in the Children’s Code,” a Snap spokesperson said.
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“We continue to have constructive conversations with them on the work we’re doing to achieve this,” they added.
The ICO often collects data on a suspected breach before opening any formal investigations.
Before choosing whether to penalize the person or entity under investigation, it may issue an information notice, which is a formal request for internal data that may help the inquiry.
In the last year, Ofcom discovered that 60% of kids between the ages of eight and eleven have at least one social media account, frequently made by providing a fictitious date of birth.
Additionally, it was discovered that Snapchat was the most widely used social networking app among young people.
Following the Reuters investigation, the public complained to the ICO about Snap’s management of children’s data, a source familiar with the situation said.
Some of the concerns, according to the source, were about Snapchat not taking enough precautions to keep young children off the site.
In order to determine if Snap has violated any laws, the ICO has reportedly consulted with users and other regulators.
A representative for the ICO told Reuters that the organization was still keeping an eye on and evaluating the measures taken by Snap and other social media sites to keep youngsters under the age of 13 from using their services.
The sources added that in the upcoming months, a decision would be taken on whether to open a formal inquiry into Snapchat.