Plain English guides to UK-wide and devolved legislation. Not legal advice — general legal information to help you understand your rights and obligations.
Governs how organisations process personal data, including children's data. Establishes the framework for the Children's Code (AADC). Requires high standard of protection for children's data, with age-appropriate privacy notices and legitimate interest assessments.
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£17.5m or 4% of global turnover
Statutory code of practice containing 15 standards that online services likely to be accessed by children must follow. Covers everything from data minimisation to nudge techniques, requiring "best interests of the child" as a primary design consideration.
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£17.5m or 4% of global turnover
The UK's landmark internet safety legislation placing duties of care on platforms to protect users, with enhanced protections for children. Covers illegal content, content harmful to children, and transparency reporting. Implementation through Ofcom codes of practice.
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£18m or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue
Statutory guidance for schools and colleges on safeguarding children. The 2024-2025 updates include AI-specific provisions for the first time, expanded filtering and monitoring requirements, and updated guidance on sharing nudes/semi-nudes including AI-generated images.
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Ofsted enforcement action
Child safeguarding in the UK is not uniform. Alongside UK-wide legislation like the Data Protection Act and Online Safety Act, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each operate their own statutory frameworks for how services and schools should safeguard children.
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Varies by devolved framework
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For immediate help: • 999 — if someone is in immediate danger • Childline: 0800 1111 — free, confidential support • CEOP — ceop.police.uk for online exploitation
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