- Some online services offer settings for controlling the data that is collected about you. Many offer you the ability to download any data that the service has collected about you, including browsing and search history, location logs and use of any apps linked to that service. Some services will allow you to toggle personalised advertising or edit lists of interests that affect the type of adverts you see. These settings do not prevent you from seeing adverts, they control whether you see general adverts or those that may be of interest to you.
- When browsing websites, you will frequently see requests to collect cookies. Cookies are small text files created by websites and stored on your device to ensure the website functions properly. Some cookies last just for your visit to the site, others are stored on your device for much longer. Some cookies are created by the website you are browsing (First-party cookies) and others are created by advertisers (Third-party cookies). The purpose of a cookie varies from ‘strictly necessary’ (essential for ensuring the website works properly, such as remembering your items in your cart on a shopping site) to storing your preferences or collecting usage data to improve the website’s functions. They can also be collected for marketing purposes to affect the types of advertising you may see.
- When completing a sign-up form to create an account or to receive communication such as an email newsletter there will be some information that is necessary to collect (such as contact name and email address) and some that may be optional (home address, phone number, age, gender, etc.). Necessary information will often be marked with an asterisk (*) or optional information will be labelled. Under GDPR, consent must be explicitly given, which means that any requests should be written in clear language and any tick boxes should not be already ticked for you.
- When entering competitions or completing a form to receive ‘free’ samples/products/services online, it is important to recognise that these things are not ‘free’ under GDPR; you are giving some of your personal data in order to receive something in return (a free download, an entry into a competition, etc.). For competitions, you should have the option to provide your personal data for the sole purpose of entering the contest.
- When using apps on devices such as computers, smartphones and tablets, these apps will request permission to access your personal data as well as features of your device. For example, a social networking app may request access to contacts (to match you with other users), device storage (to save content you create on the app), camera and microphone (to enable you to take photos,videos and livestream using the app). It may also request access to the device’s location tracking features, view network and Wi-FI connections or access a user’s calendar. In contrast, an online game might only request to access the device storage, location and to receive data from the internet in order to install updates.
Advice:
- Explore the settings for controlling data collection, as well as deleting personal data, on the services that you and your family use.
- Help your child to understand that their personal data is important and should not be given away freely on every online service they use.
- Encourage your child to check with you before submitting an online form for a competition or sign-up – this gives you an opportunity to discuss the difference between necessary and optional personal data.
- Review the granted permissions for apps in a device’s settings. These settings allow you to revoke any you feel unhappy about, but this can cause some apps to stop working properly. Work with your child to look for the required permissions on the download page for an app on an app store – if you feel the required permissions are more than necessary for the app then don’t install it.
- Many social networking apps request access to location tracking features on a device. This may be to collect data but also to permit a user to share their location when using the social network. It is wise to turn off location permissions for communication apps that your child uses so that they cannot accidentally or deliberately share their exact location with other users.