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New Age Appropriate Design Code aims to protect children online

Internet Matters Team | 22nd January, 2020
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The data regulator has set out 15 measures to make children’s privacy online a top priority for tech firms. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) hopes its Age Appropriate Design Code will come into effect by the autumn of 2021.

But what does the Information Commissioner’s Office’s (ICO) final Age Appropriate Design Code tell companies to do?

What is in the Age Appropriate Design Code?

Best interests of the child

Data protection impact assessments

Age-appropriate application

Transparency

Detrimental use of data

Policies and community standards

Default settings

Data minimisation

Data sharing

Geolocation

Parental controls

Profiling

Nudge techniques

Connected toys and devices

Online tools

What does CEO of Internet Matters Carolyn Bunting say?

She said: “We support any measures that prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children online, and welcome ICO’s age-appropriate design code.

“Parents consistently tell us of their concerns about the online world and the risks it could pose to their child’s wellbeing, so we are delighted to see the interests of children at the very heart of the measures outlined today.

“A child’s online world is fundamental to their everyday life and we all – government, industry, schools and parents, share a responsibility to keep them safe online.

“And while we anticipate the introduction of new technical safety measures, there remains no substitute to having regular, open and honest conversations with your child to help keep them safe in the digital world.”

Supporting resources

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