Picture-hosting platform Imgur has blocked folks within the UK from accessing its content material.
Imgur is utilized by hundreds of thousands to make and share photographs reminiscent of memes throughout the online, notably on Reddit and in on-line boards.
However UK customers making an attempt to entry Imgur on Tuesday had been met with an error message saying “content material not accessible in your area” – with Imgur content material shared on different web sites additionally not displaying.
The UK’s knowledge watchdog, the Data Commissioner’s Workplace (ICO), mentioned it not too long ago notified the platform’s mum or dad firm, MediaLab AI, of plans to positive Imgur after probing its method to age checks and use of youngsters’s private knowledge.
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 not accessible”.
“UK customers won’t be able to log in, view content material, or add photographs. 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 will probe whether or not the businesses had been complying with each the UK’s knowledge safety legal guidelines, and the youngsters’s code.
These require platforms to take steps to guard youngsters utilizing on-line companies within the UK, together with minimising the quantity of the information they gather from them.
A doc published 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 positive.
“Our findings are provisional and the ICO will rigorously contemplate any representations from MediaLab earlier than taking a closing choice whether or not to difficulty 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 duty for any prior infringement of information safety regulation, and our investigation stays ongoing.”
The watchdog wouldn’t elaborate on what its findings had been, nor the main points of the potential positive, when requested by the BBC.
“This replace has been offered to present readability on our investigation, and we is not going to be offering any additional element right now,” Mr Capel mentioned in his statement.
Some Imgur customers and reviews speculated as as to whether Imgur moved to dam UK customers from its companies, fairly than adjust to little one security duties not too long ago imposed on some platforms below 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 know-how to verify 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 “business choice”.
“Imgur’s choice to limit entry within the UK is a business choice taken by the corporate and never a results of any motion taken by Ofcom,” an Ofcom spokesperson instructed the BBC.
“Different companies run by MediaLab stay accessible within the UK – reminiscent of Kik messenger, which has carried out age assurance to adjust to the On-line Security Act.”
Imgur mentioned in the help article on its US website that UK customers may train their rights below knowledge safety regulation and request to obtain a replica of their date or request to delete their account.
