MNHQ here: AMA with Emily Keaney, Deputy Commissioner at the Information Commissioner's Office, talking children's privacy and keeping kids safe online, Tuesday 15th September, 7-9pm

[RhiannonEMumsnet]

Hi there,

We're delighted to announce an AMA with Emily Keaney, Deputy Commissioner at the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), on Tuesday 15th September at 7pm.

The ICO is the UK's independent data protection regulator. It works to protect people's personal information and privacy rights, including helping to make sure children can explore, learn and play online safely while organisations use their data responsibly.

Emily will be answering your questions about children's privacy online, including how parents and carers can help keep children safe online and what families can do to make informed choices about the apps, games and online services their children use.

Emily will also be discussing the ICO's Switched on to Privacy campaign, which helps families understand children's data protection rights and make informed choices about the digital products and services they use every day.

The campaign is aimed at parents and carers of children aged 4 to 11 and provides practical advice on navigating issues such as privacy settings, targeted advertising, location sharing and the collection of children's personal information online. It's designed to make online privacy feel like an everyday life skill for children, similar to road safety, brushing their teeth and knowing not to talk to strangers. Through simple, regular conversations, the campaign helps families build children's confidence and awareness online.

Please post your questions below and join Emily on the thread on Tuesday to hear the answers.

As always, please remember our guidelines: one question per user, follow-ups only if there's time and most questions have been answered, and please keep it civil.

It does feel like part of the problem is that for these companies some of these fines are a drop in the ocean and I think often they view them as the cost of doing business. It's the same with inappropriate content on social media and the consequences for that. Do you think the ICO and other regulators could do with more teeth or do you think the powers you currently have really make a difference?

Hi Emily. Its good to see you doing this AMA. I have tried talking to my 10 year old son about why it matters if he gives out his birthday or name to use an app but he doesn't really get what the big deal is. I worry about the stuff I've read about digital footprints lasting forever but at his age he doesn't really listen. Is there a good way of explaining why this is important?

Hi @ByGladBlueRobin getting a 10 year old to engage with this can be really hard - especially when they just want to be let loose on whatever game or activity they are currently into.

You can try comparing personal information to a puzzle. A birthday on its own might not seem important or a first name or a favourite game. But when lots of small pieces are put together, they can reveal a surprising amount about someone. A colleague also posed this to her child - “If your own personal information was a treasure chest, who would you let have the key?” and I think that is a really lovely and simply way to try and explain to our children that information that belongs to them – their name, their birthday, where they live and so on – is valuable and thought needs to be given to who it is given out to, whether online or in person.

With younger children, it's also worth emphasising that privacy isn't about having something to hide. It's about having control over your own information and deciding who gets to know things about you. Just as they probably wouldn't tell every stranger in the street their home address or school, it's worth thinking about what information they share online too.

Most importantly, try to keep the conversation ongoing rather than making it a one-off lesson. Children are much more likely to engage when privacy is linked to things they already care about, like gaming, videos, social media or messaging their friends. The goal isn't to make them worried, it's to help them develop good habits and confidence so they can make informed choices as they grow up.

We've got some useful conversation starters on our Switched on to privacy hub which can really help with this: Switched on to privacy checklist | ICO

@NiceEgg speaking for the ICO, we have a range of powers, including the ability to issue companies with fines, and this does make a difference - not just to the company that is fined but by making it clear to the wider sector what they need to do to comply and the consequences if they get it wrong. This can be a lengthy process though if companies appeal those fines as this can go through multiple stages which can be frustrating.

That is why the other powers we have are also really important in moving the dial. We can audit organisations and make recommendations to them about things they need to change, which are a really powerful way of getting into the detail of what an organisation is doing and making sure they have the right approach built in. We can also require organisations to provide us with information, which helps us when we investigate. We also do lots of work providing guidance and advice to companies which can be really helpful for organisations who want, or can be persuaded, to do the right thing.

However, this is an area that is moving fast. Government are continuing to keep an eye on whether more is needed. You may have seen the recent announcements about giving Ofcom more powers to oversee social media platforms used by kids and we are working closely with Ofcom as they put that in place. Government's approach is also influenced by the views and experiences of parents and children, through things like petitions and what constituents tell their MPs - so you being engaged with and thinking about these issues is really important in that way too.

Thank you everyone for your questions this evening! I'm going to log off now, but I've really enjoyed the conversation and the chance to hear directly from parents and carers and hope you've all found it useful, too.

One thing I've taken away from tonight is that many parents care deeply about their children's online privacy but can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the pace of technology and the challenges that come with it. That's completely understandable. No parent can know everything about every app, game or online platform. The good news is that you don't need to be a tech expert to help your child build good online privacy habits. What matters most is keeping the conversation going, encouraging them to think about what they share online, and taking a few moments to check privacy settings on the apps and devices they use.

That's exactly why we created the ICO's Switched on to Privacy campaign. We want to help families feel more confident having these conversations and give children the skills they need to make smart choices online as they grow up.

Thank you again for having me on Mumsnet and for sharing your experiences, concerns and questions so openly. If you'd like more information, advice and practical tips, please take a look at the ICO's Switched on to privacy resources. In the meantime, we will also be continuing to work to make sure the companies are doing their bit to build privacy for kids into their services.

Goodbye for now and thanks again!

Emily