More Than Child's Play? Privacy Concerns Raised Over Apps And Websites Aimed At Children

Earlier this year, the Office of the Irish Data Protection Commissioner ("DPC") announced its participation in another 'privacy sweep' ("Sweep"), focusing on children's apps and websites. GPEN – the Global Privacy Enforcement Network – carries out an annual 'privacy sweep' which targets a specific trend or issue. GPEN is an alliance of data protection authorities ("DPAs") from around the globe and the annual Sweep involves a co-ordinated effort among participating DPAs.

In 2014, GPEN focused on general app privacy compliance. As many DPAs had identified the use of children's data as a key area of focus, the 2015 Sweep was aimed at children's apps and websites. As the DPC noted in its announcement, "there is legitimate concern about the kind of data being collected by service providers via websites and apps that are popular with children, and how it is used and stored." In recent months, GPEN has published the results of the review of children's apps and websites.