The ICO is calling on 11 social media and video sharing platforms to improve their children’s privacy practices. Where platforms do not comply with the law, they will face enforcement action.

This follows our ongoing review of social media platforms (SMPs) and video sharing platforms (VSPs) as part of our Children’s Code Strategy. Our Tech Lab reviewed 34 SMPs and VSPs focusing on the process young people go through to sign-up for accounts

They also identified areas where further evidence is needed to improve understanding of how these services are impacting children’s privacy. They are launching a call for interested stakeholders including online services, academics and civil society to share their views and evidence on two areas of children’s privacy:

• How children’s personal information is currently being used in recommender systems (algorithms that use people’s details to learn their interests and preferences in order to deliver content to them); and
• Recent developments in the use of age assurance to identify children under 13 years old.