Discover the story behind Warro the Data Bear and her friend Bijou the Blue Tit. The book is the Bailiwick of Guernsey’s Office of the Data Protection Authority’s (ODPA) latest project to help engage young people with the issues around data protection.

Aimed at children aged 7-10 years old, the book tells of Warro’s adventure into a world filled with data where she learns about what personal data is and how it might created and used. The ODPA are distributing the book to all year 4 students in Bailiwick schools in November 2023 to tie in with the UN’s World Children’s Day.

Katherine Levy Spencer speaks to author Kirsty Bougourd about the book and where the ideas came from.

More at: https://www.odpa.gg/warro

The story behind Warro the Data Bear

In the first data protection tea break of 2024 we meet the Bailiwick’s new Data Protection Commissioner Brent Homan.

Previously the Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in Canada Brent has led a number of high profile investigations into areas such as facial recognition, location tracking and behavioural advertising to name just a few. He has also been involved in a number of global privacy initiatives.

Kirsty Bougourd chats to Brent about his plans to build on the existing work of the Office of the Data Protection Authority through a 3 pillars strategy of balance, trust and partnership.

He talks about what the regulated community can expect from the ODPA and his plans to continue to engage and support the islands’ population. Brent discusses the global aspect of work relating to data protection and how living in smaller jurisdictions can magnify the risks.

They also discuss continuing to develop activities and resources to support young people and to educate parents and their children about how new technology uses their data and can both enhance their lives but also potentially cause harm.

In particular Brent highlights the ongoing work developing a Children’s Framework to help set guidelines on the use of young people’s data in the Bailiwick and the need for people to take part in the survey to produce something fit for purpose.

Kirsty and Brent also chat about the big move and how him and his family are all settling in and embracing island life.

The Canadian, the Pug, the Bear and the Bailiwick

The Office of the Data Protection Authority (Bailiwick of Guernsey) are the independent regulator of the local data protection law which is equivalent to the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We aim to give you accessible, informative, thought-provoking, and hopefully entertaining insights to a broad range of topics relevant to data protection.

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