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xUK Government must uphold children’s privacy in new data law
Date: 19th November 2024
Category:
Civil Rights and Freedoms
The UK Government has introduced a new draft bill, the Data (Use and Access) Bill, aimed at updating key elements of data protection. This legislation seeks to leverage data for economic growth, modernise digital government and improve lives.
Notably, the Bill includes provisions aimed at enhancing the safety of children online by increasing the accountability of tech companies and granting independent researchers access to social media data.
The 5Rights Foundation, an international NGO campaigning for a rights respecting digital world, welcomed these proposals, particularly those that require the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to consider children’s vulnerabilities when enforcing regulations. At the same time, 5Rights expressed concerns over certain areas where data protection might be weakened. It highlighted risks in allowing companies to use personal data for commercial research, reuse data without user consent, and employ personal data in automated decision-making, which may harm children’s interests.
5Rights has urged the UK Government to ensure that current protections for children under the Age Appropriate Design Code, part of the Data Protection Act 2018, remain intact. This Code is crucial for child online safety, requiring tech firms to set privacy standards that protect children’s data, such as keeping their location private, limiting exposure to harmful content, and reducing addictive design features.