Empowering young voices: New project to help shape online privacy for young people

The Alannah & Madeline Foundation is proud to announce a new initiative, the ‘Upholding Children’s Right to Privacy Online’ project, generously funded by the Ross Trust. This groundbreaking project aims to tackle the increasing exploitation of children’s personal information by digital technology platforms, addressing a growing concern for families, young people, and school communities across Australia.

As children and young people navigate the digital world, their personal data is often collected, harvested, and commercialised without sufficient safeguards. Big tech companies shamelessly monetise children’s data and manipulate their behaviour for profit. And when challenged, these tech giants aggressively fight any attempt to regulate their business model - continuing to put the safety and wellbeing of children and young people at risk. Read more about the five digital risk areas, the systems that create the risk and the data that drives the systems here.

This project will bring to light the extent of these practices through new, Australia-centric research, providing a clearer picture of how children’s data is being used and misused. The findings will serve as a basis for further advocacy efforts, targeting government bodies and regulators to ensure that children’s privacy and rights are fully protected during the upcoming critical period of digital reform (2025-27).

Central to this project is the active engagement of young people and their parents/caregivers whose experiences and perspectives are crucial to understanding the real-world impacts of data exploitation. By involving children and young people directly, we aim to ensure their voices shape the outcomes, delivering solutions that genuinely reflect their needs and protect their rights. Their input will help create more effective, relevant policies and practices that resonate with those most affected.

“Children have a fundamental right to privacy, yet in the digital world, their personal information is often collected and used without their understanding or consent. This project is about ensuring young people’s voices are heard in shaping stronger protections online. By working together - families, educators, policymakers, and young people themselves - we can create a digital environment that respects and safeguards their privacy, allowing them to safely explore, connect and thrive online”, shared Alannah & Madeline Foundation CEO, Sarah Davies AM.

Australia currently lags behind many other developed nations in safeguarding children’s digital rights. This project seeks to bridge that gap by fostering improved knowledge and attitudes among decision-makers in government and child-rights organisations. By raising awareness and driving legislative and regulatory changes, we aim to create a digital environment where children’s rights are upheld, allowing them to thrive safely online. The findings will also be shared with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), to support the 2025 consultation on the creation of a Children’s Online Privacy Code

The Alannah & Madeline Foundation is uniquely positioned to lead this vital work. With over 15 years of experience delivering online safety education programs in Australian schools through our eSmart programs, we have established ourselves as a trusted authority in the field. Our strong relationships with key government and regulatory bodies, including the eSafety Commission, and collaborations with child-rights advocates such as UNICEF and the Australian Child Rights Taskforce, further strengthen our capacity to effect meaningful change.

This important project will help propel us forward in advocating for the right of all children and young people to be safe in all places where they live, learn and play – including in online space.