Imgur blocks access to UK users after proposed regulatory fine

Picture-hosting platform Imgur has blocked folks within the UK from accessing its content material.Imgur is utilized by tens of millions to make and share photos resembling memes throughout the net, significantly on Reddit and in on-line boards.However UK customers attempting to entry Imgur on Tuesday had been met with an error message saying “content material not out there in your area” – with Imgur content material shared on different web sites additionally now not exhibiting.The UK’s information watchdog, the Info Commissioner’s Workplace (ICO), mentioned it lately notified the platform’s father or mother firm, MediaLab AI, of plans to tremendous Imgur after probing its strategy to age checks and use of kids’s private information.The BBC has approached MediaLab AI for remark.A assist article on Imgur’s US web site, seen by the BBC, states that “from September 30, 2025, entry to Imgur from the UK is now not out there”.”UK customers will be unable to log in, view content material, or add photos. Imgur content material embedded on third-party websites is not going to show for UK customers.”The ICO launched its investigation into Imgur in March – saying it could probe whether or not the businesses had been complying with each the UK’s information safety legal guidelines, and the youngsters’s code.These require platforms to take steps to guard youngsters utilizing on-line providers within the UK, together with minimising the quantity of the information they accumulate from them.A doc revealed by the ICO alongside the launch of its investigation said that Imgur didn’t ask guests to declare their age when organising an account.It mentioned on Tuesday it had reached preliminary findings in its investigation and, on 10 September, issued MediaLab with a discover of intent to impose a tremendous.”Our findings are provisional and the ICO will fastidiously contemplate any representations from MediaLab earlier than taking a remaining choice whether or not to subject a financial penalty,” mentioned Tim Capel, an interim government director on the ICO.”We’ve been clear that exiting the UK doesn’t enable an organisation to keep away from accountability for any prior infringement of information safety legislation, and our investigation stays ongoing.”The watchdog wouldn’t elaborate on what its findings had been, nor the main points of the potential tremendous, when requested by the BBC.”This replace has been supplied to present readability on our investigation, and we is not going to be offering any additional element presently,” Mr Capel mentioned in his assertion.Some Imgur customers and studies speculated as as to whether Imgur moved to dam UK customers from its providers, relatively than adjust to baby security duties lately imposed on some platforms beneath the On-line Security Act.Amongst these are necessities for websites permitting pornography or content material selling suicide and self-harm to make use of expertise to test whether or not guests are over 18.However each the ICO and Ofcom – the media regulator imposing the On-line Security Act – mentioned Imgur suspending entry for UK customers had been its personal “industrial choice”. “Imgur’s choice to limit entry within the UK is a industrial choice taken by the corporate and never a results of any motion taken by Ofcom,” an Ofcom spokesperson informed the BBC.”Different providers run by MediaLab stay out there within the UK – resembling Kik messenger, which has carried out age assurance to adjust to the On-line Security Act.”Imgur mentioned within the assist article on its US web site that UK customers might train their rights beneath information safety legislation and request to obtain a duplicate of their date or request to delete their account.