Businesses that offer products or services to a young audience or customer base may gain access to various personal information about children, including data collected through online platforms and apps, as well as e-commerce or educational services that children use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The UK’s data protection law regime imposes strict obligations on how businesses may use and protect children’s information. Given that children may be less aware of the risks and may not fully understand how their data is processed, the use of children’s data by a business requires additional and careful consideration, including the need to explain your data protection practices in clear, plain language that children understand. If you are a business that processes personal data about children, it is essential to adopt strong safeguards and design your processing with children’s protection in mind from the outset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This article explores the UK’s data protection law regime, some critical considerations for protecting children’s data, and the importance of seeking tailored legal advice to help your business protect children’s data and mitigate risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The UK data protection regime is made up of the UK GDPR <\/a>and the Data Protection Act 2018<\/em><\/a>. These laws set out a range of mandatory rules that apply when personal data is processed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025<\/em> also forms a part of the UK’s privacy landscape and is a law that is being brought into force in phases through secondary legislation. Whilst not a specific data protection law, it brings targeted amendments to the current data protection framework and imposes further compliance duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The general rules under the UK GDPR apply when a business processes children’s personal data. The law states that children require additional safeguards because they may be less aware of: <\/p>\n\n\n\n As well as compliance with legal rules, the Age-Appropriate Design Code<\/a> is a specific code of practice that provides additional protection for children who use online services.<\/p>\n The code sets out 15 standards that online services are required to prioritise if they are likely to be accessed by children. In the best interests of the child, these services must incorporate strong protections, such as high privacy settings and clear explanations, which are suitable for younger users. It is important that businesses that fall under the remit of the code take steps to ensure compliance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Children may not appreciate the risks of sharing their information or understand how an organisation will use their data. A wide range of information may be processed about children, such as: <\/p>\n\n\n\n If a business mishandles such information, children may face harm or long-term consequences. As such, key protections to safeguard children are vital – particularly given their increased vulnerability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Protecting children’s personal data is a key legal obligation and a fundamental trust issue. Parents will expect businesses to safeguard children’s information, and this expectation can strongly influence trust and business success. If your business manages children’s data securely and complies with data protection laws when doing so, you may be able to strengthen your reputation as a data-responsible and trustworthy business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Continue reading this article below the form\n <\/i>\n<\/a>\n\n
Why Children’s Data Needs Significant Protection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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