ICO Reaffirms Focus on Children’s Privacy After Meta’s US Trial
Key Takeaways
- 01The ICO reaffirmed on 27 August 2026 that children’s privacy is a UK regulatory priority following Meta’s US trial outcome.
- 02The ICO highlighted the Children’s Code, which sets age-appropriate data-protection expectations for online services used by children.
- 03The regulator is continuing to examine platforms’ use of children’s personal information in recommender systems.
- 04Platforms likely to be accessed by UK children face continued scrutiny of data-driven personalisation practices.
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has said that protecting children’s privacy remains a regulatory priority following the outcome of Meta’s trial in the United States. The statement was published on 27 August 2026.
The ICO pointed to its Age Appropriate Design Code, commonly called the Children’s Code, as a central part of its approach. The Code sets data-protection expectations for online services likely to be accessed by children.
The regulator also highlighted its continuing work on how platforms use children’s personal information in recommender systems. These systems use data to select, rank, or suggest content to users.
For platforms serving UK children, the statement signals continued ICO scrutiny of data practices that support personalised recommendations. Organisations should ensure that their use of children’s data is consistent with the Children’s Code and wider UK data-protection requirements.