Key Takeaways for Practitioners
The research emphasizes a contextual approach to data protection, balancing children’s legal and moral rights. Here are the three main areas of focus:
- Consent: Ensure that consent for data processing is informed and considers the child's perspective. Engage children in a manner appropriate to their understanding, using tools like project webpages with age-appropriate materials.
- Data Retention: Retain data only when necessary and ensure it serves a justified purpose. This minimizes risks such as discrimination or social stigma. Implement policies allowing children to opt-out once they reach the age of majority.
- Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs): Conduct DPIAs to evaluate risks and implement safeguards. Make these assessments transparent and accessible to build trust with children and their families.
Implementing Best Practices
Practitioners can enhance their data protection practices by:
- Regularly updating consent procedures to ensure they are comprehensive and child-friendly.
- Implementing strict data retention policies that align with the best interests of the child.
- Conducting and updating DPIAs to reflect evolving data protection needs and communicating these assessments clearly to stakeholders.
Encouraging Further Research
While the current research provides a solid foundation, ongoing research is vital to address emerging challenges in children's data protection. Practitioners are encouraged to stay informed about the latest developments and incorporate new findings into their practices.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Coming Out to Play: Privacy, Data Protection, Children’s Health, and COVID-19 Research.
