Reddit Releases New Content Policy Locking Public Data

Reddit has introduced a new policy, the "Public Content Policy," to regulate access to its data, particularly in light of increased interest from commercial entities.

This policy ensures that Reddit's content is licensed responsibly while safeguarding user privacy. It joins existing privacy and content policies, shaping how external parties access and use Reddit's data.

Additionally, Reddit has announced the creation of a new subreddit dedicated to researchers working with the platform's data.

Reddit's Public Content Policy

The Public Content Policy aims to maintain public access to its content while enforcing user protections. Reddit seeks to counteract the growing trend of commercial entities collecting bulk public data without regard for privacy or user rights.

The policy emphasizes the importance of working with trusted partners who agree to respect user decisions and not misuse access to Reddit's content for surveillance or identification purposes.

In tandem with this policy, Reddit has introduced r/reddit4researchers, a subreddit designed to support researchers and academics interested in responsible, non-commercial use of Reddit's public data.

This initiative aims to provide tools and resources that facilitate access to Reddit content for academic purposes.

The Chief Legal Officer of Reddit, u/Traceroo, elaborated on the Public Content Policy, emphasizing Reddit's commitment to maintaining a public platform while safeguarding user data.

This policy clarifies what constitutes public Reddit content, encompassing posts, comments, usernames, karma scores, and other publicly available information.

Notably, it excludes private messages, mod mail, and non-public account details like email addresses or IP addresses, which are not licensed or distributed by Reddit due to obvious privacy considerations.

Reddit's Licensing Agreements

Partners entering into licensing agreements with Reddit must uphold privacy standards and refrain from using Reddit content to identify individuals or for targeted advertising.

Content from the platform is prohibited against use for harassment, spam, facial recognition, government surveillance, background checks, and more.

Additionally, access to public content that has adult media is restricted, and Reddit said that it does not sell the personal information of its users.

According to the announcement, bad actors who violate these policies risk losing access to Reddit content, and the platform may pursue legal action if necessary.

For users, these agreements ensure protections against the misuse of public content while enabling Reddit to invest in platform improvements. Users can continue to access Reddit as usual, with no changes to their experience.

"We are, unfortunately, seeing more and more commercial entities collecting public data, including Reddit content, in bulk with no regard for user rights or privacy.

We believe in preserving public access to Reddit content, but in distributing Reddit content, we need to work with trusted partners that will agree in writing to reasonable protections for redditors," u/Traceroo said.

"They should respect user decisions to delete their content as well as anything Reddit removes for violating our Content Policy, and they cannot abuse their access by using Reddit content to identify or surveil users."