Data protection campaign focuses on the young

A nationwide campaign has been launched today to educate children and teenagers about the issues of managing their personal data online, especially via social networking sites. “The i in online” has been put together by Speechly Bircham, a London law firm with a large information law practice, with the backing of the UK ICO, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner’s Office, The Walt Disney Company UK, Sky, Nickelodeon and the BBC.

The campaign is aiming to promote best practice in the use and processing of personal information on the internet. It is providing educational tools to secondary schools and youth clubs across the UK that highlight the legal and regulatory dimensions, as well as guidance on how to enjoy digital citizenship.

Robert Bond, partner and chair of Speechly Bircham’s CSR team, says: “The problems and potential dangers that social networking can pose for children are well-known and the Government’s recent apComms Report confirmed that there is still a misunderstanding among the education sector as to how personal data should be managed and shared. While there are excellent schemes in existence that provide support for victims of internet abuse, we felt that there was an urgent need for an awareness and education campaign designed to promote the safe use of personal information.”

The education programme has been developed by his company as part of a consortium of in-house counsel, law firms and law students from BBP Law School. Other participating firms include Bristows, Field Fisher Waterhouse, Dechert and Pinsent Masons.

Recommended