The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is calling on 11 social media and video sharing platforms to improve their children’s privacy practices, with the regulatory body stating that where platforms do not comply with the law, they will face enforcement action.

This follows an ongoing review of social media platforms (SMPs) and video sharing platforms (VSPs) as part of the ICO’s Children’s Code Strategy. This latest notice comes following the organisation’s Tech Lab reviewing 34 SMPs and VSPs focusing on the process young people go through to sign-up for accounts.

Varying levels of adherence to the Children’s code were found, with some platforms not doing enough to protect children’s privacy, according to the ICO.

As a result, 11 out of the 34 platforms are being asked about issues relating to default privacy settings, geolocation or age assurance, and to explain how their approach conforms with the code, following concerns raised by the review.

The ICO has stated that they are also speaking to some of the platforms about targeted advertising to set out expectations for changes to ensure practices are in line with both the law and the code.

Emily Keaney, ICO deputy commissioner, said: “There is no excuse for online services likely to be accessed by children to have poor privacy practices. Where organisations fail to protect children’s personal information, we will step in and take action.

“Online services and platforms have a duty of care to children. Poorly designed products and services can leave children at risk of serious harm from abuse, bullying and even loss of control of their personal information.”

The regulator 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.

The evidence gathered will be used to inform the ICO’s ongoing work to secure further improvements in how SMPs and VSPs protect children’s privacy.

As the SMP and VSP market is continuously changing, and children’s internet usage is continually evolving, the Tech Lab review included a mixture of new and established providers that give access to under-18s.

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The project is part of the ICO’s ongoing work on children’s privacy which has pushed industry to make significant changes, meaning children benefit from a more positive online experience – helping the UK’s fast-moving technology sector look after young people’s information.

The regulatory body’s work supports platforms to develop services that recognise and cater for the fact that children warrant special protection in how their personal information is used, whilst also offering plenty of opportunity to explore and develop online.

Keaney added: “Our world-leading Children’s code has helped stop targeted advertising at children on some of the biggest social media platforms. The code has even encouraged other areas, including tech-famous California, to create their own codes. We’re now building on the code’s achievements to gather more evidence and push for further changes.”