Imgur Blocks Access for UK Users After Data Protection Watchdog Issues Fine Over Children’s Data Use

In response to a potential fine from the UK’s data protection authority, Imgur—a prominent global image-sharing and hosting platform—has restricted access to its service for users within the United Kingdom. Users encounter an error message reading “Content not available in your region” when attempting to load Imgur from the UK.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) initiated an investigation into various social media platforms, including Imgur, in March, examining their handling of children’s data and protection of minors’ privacy within the country. On Tuesday, the ICO revealed provisional findings from the ongoing investigation and notified MediaLab AI, Imgur’s parent company, of its intention to impose a fine. The ICO described Imgur’s decision to restrict access in the UK as a “commercial decision taken by the company.”

Tim Capel, interim executive director of regulatory supervision at the ICO, stated that the findings are still provisional, and any representations from MediaLab AI will be considered before a final decision is made regarding a potential monetary penalty. Capel emphasized that exiting the UK does not absolve an organization from responsibility for any prior infringement of data protection law, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The ICO’s update aims to offer clarity on the ongoing investigation, with no further details provided at this time. MediaLab AI and Imgur did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Launched in 2009, Imgur rapidly gained popularity as Reddit’s preferred image hosting service and has since amassed a substantial community of its own. In August, the site recorded over 195 million visits, according to Semrush.