UK Mobile Gaming Faces Privacy Crackdown: Parents Sound the Alarm
The UK’s data protection regulator is reviewing mobile games for privacy law compliance, targeting popular titles. Concerns include intrusive design, data sharing, and targeted ads. 84% of parents worry about children’s exposure to harmful content, while 76% fret over personal data sharing. The ICO aims to enforce the Children’s code for better privacy standards.
Hot Take:
Looks like the ICO is stepping up as the modern-day Robin Hood of the digital world—stealing data protection from the rich game developers and giving it to the poor, unsuspecting kids. With mobile games under the microscope, it’s time for game developers to make sure their privacy settings are less like a haunted house and more like a cozy, child-proofed home. Let’s just hope this doesn’t turn into a game of hide and seek—where privacy hides, and the ICO seeks.
Key Points:
- The ICO is investigating 10 popular mobile games to ensure they comply with the Children’s Code.
- Parents are particularly worried about privacy settings, geolocation, and targeted ads.
- The Children’s Code lays out 15 steps to protect children’s privacy online.
- Previous ICO actions have led to significant improvements in social media data practices.
- Global regulators are increasingly scrutinizing children’s data protection, not just in the UK.