Children today are growing up in a world where almost everything they do leaves a data trail. From the apps they use, to the schools they attend and the healthcare they receive; data is being collected, analysed and increasingly connected and shared. But at what cost?

Recent Government proposals mean that this question is more important than ever. The Schools White Paper and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 have major implications for children’s privacy; from age verification to plans for a “Data Spine” to link information across the public sector.

In this podcast, we analyse the Government’s plans for our children’s data, discuss children’s privacy in the internet age and the role Big Tech is playing in the collection storage and analysis of all our data. We ask if the government is simply trying to do a better job of protecting children or if it is quietly building a surveillance system which will impact all of us.

Ibrahim Hasan is joined by Jen Persson, Director of Defend Digital Me, a not-for-profit organisation that advocates for children's privacy and digital rights in UK education and the wider public sector.

Please note that this podcast was recorded on 11th April 2026 when the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 was still a Bill going through the final stages of Parliament. The Bill received Royal Assent on 29th April 2026.

Useful Links

Phaselaw

Defend Digital Me

No2ID

GeneWatch UK

The Data Justice Lab

Med Confidential

US Teen Social Media Addiction Case

DfE ICO Reprimand

NHS Palantir Deal

Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'Neil

ADRN Ipsos Mori(2014). Dialogue on data: Exploring the public's views on using administrative data for research purposes

Evaluation report of the children missing education database pilot (Wales) 2025-26

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