Guardians of Data

Beyond GDPR: The Real Purpose of Data Protection

This episode is a fascinating and deeply human conversation with one of the most thoughtful voices in the world of privacy and information governance. Emma Martins [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-martins-714128102/] served as Data Protection Commissioner for the Bailiwick of Guernsey for over a decade.  In our conversation, Emma reminds us that data protection is about far more than compliance checklists, privacy notices, or subject access requests. At its core, data protection is about people, power, democracy and human dignity. We explore the historical roots of data protection law, including the lessons Europe learned from surveillance and authoritarianism after World War Two, and why those lessons matter now more than ever in the age of AI, predictive policing, algorithmic bias and mass data collection. Emma also shares her reflections on: * The need for data protection professionals need to reconnect with their “why” * The importance of diversity, curiosity, and collaboration in the IG profession * And how we can all move from being seen as blockers to becoming trusted cultural leaders inside our organisations This is not a conversation about technology or the minutiae of data protection law; it’s a conversation about humanity and why we are here as data protection professionals.  Be sure to check out below, Emma’s recommendations for books and films about data protection and privacy.  Emma’s Watch List * Can’t Look Away  * The Social Dilemma * Citizen Four * Terms and Conditions May Apply * The Great Hack * The Circle * Ex Machina * Coded Bias * Mr Bates vs The Post Office * The Social Network * Minority Report * Capture - BBC Books * The Age of Surveillance Capitalism - S Zuboff * Nothing to Hide - D Solove * Beyond Data - E Renieris * Your Face Belongs to Us - K Hill * More than a Glitch - M Broussard * You are Not a Gadget - J Lanier * The Political Philosophy of AI - M Coecklebergh * Technology is Not Neutral - S Hare * Data Ethics of Power - G Hasselbach * Logging Off - A Zeynap Walton * Unmasking AI - J Buolamwini * Privacy is Power - C Veliz * Human Rights, Robot Wrongs - S Alegre This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw [https://www.phase.law/guardians] - a purpose-built solution for document disclosures, like subject access requests and FOI requests. Instead of redacting PDFs one by one, or forcing litigation software to do a job it wasn't designed for, with Phaselaw you get collection, review, and redaction in one workflow. Teams across the World are using it to cut response times from weeks to days. For Guardians of Data listeners, Phaselaw is offering a two-month free trial; run it on live requests, see what it does to your backlog, decide from there. No card, no commitment.

Inside FOI Journalism

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) is an essential tool for the journalist seeking to hold public institutions to account. But for those handling FOI requests from journalists, the challenge is to balance minimising the resource burden on the organisation with maintaining openness and transparency. This requires a good understanding of the journalist’s motivation, tactics and pressures. In this episode we are joined by Martin Rosenbaum [https://rosenbaum.org.uk/blog/]. Martin spent 16 years at the BBC [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cx6p27961e1t] as the organisation’s leading specialist in using FOI for journalism. He is the author of Freedom of Information: A Practical Guidebook [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Freedom-Information-practical-Martin-Rosenbaum/dp/1739800540/]- a comprehensive, hands-on guide that explains the law, the process, and the tactics for using FOI effectively. We talk about: * How journalists use FOI to uncover the truth and inform the public * The tactics that make the difference between a successful request and a dead end * How FOI has evolved since its introduction  * And what information professionals can learn from the media’s use of this powerful tool If you like this podcast, please listen to Episode 3 [https://actnowtraining.blog/2026/03/04/guardian-of-data-podcast-episode-3/] where Maurice Frenkel of the Campaign for Freedom of Information (CFOI) reflects on 20 years of the Freedom of Information Act. Useful Links Phaselaw [https://www.phase.law/guardians] Martin’s Blog [https://rosenbaum.org.uk/books/] Freedom of Information: A Practical Guidebook  [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Freedom-Information-practical-Martin-Rosenbaum/dp/1739800540/] Act Now FOI Blogs [https://actnowtraining.blog/?s=FOI+] This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw [https://www.phase.law/guardians] - a purpose-built solution for document disclosures, like subject access requests and FOI requests. Instead of redacting PDFs one by one, or forcing litigation software to do a job it wasn't designed for, with Phaselaw you get collection, review, and redaction in one workflow. Teams across the World are using it to cut response times from weeks to days. For Guardians of Data listeners, Phaselaw is offering a two-month free trial; run it on live requests, see what it does to your backlog, decide from there. No card, no commitment.

Government Plans for Children's Data

Children today are growing up in a world where almost everything they do leaves a data trail. From the apps they use, to the schools they attend and the healthcare they receive; data is being collected, analysed and increasingly connected and shared. But at what cost? Recent Government proposals mean that this question is more important than ever. The Schools White Paper [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/every-child-achieving-and-thriving] and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 [https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3909] have major implications for children’s privacy; from age verification to plans for a “Data Spine” to link information across the public sector. In this podcast, we analyse the Government’s plans for our children’s data, discuss children’s privacy in the internet age and the role Big Tech is playing in the collection storage and analysis of all our data.  We ask if the government is simply trying to do a better job of protecting children or if it is quietly building a surveillance system which will impact all of us.  Ibrahim Hasan [https://www.actnow.org.uk/ibrahimhasan] is joined by Jen Persson, Director of Defend Digital Me [https://defenddigitalme.org/about/],  a not-for-profit organisation that advocates for children's privacy and digital rights in UK education and the wider public sector.  Please note that this podcast was recorded on 11th April 2026 when the  Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 [https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3909] was still a Bill going through the final stages of Parliament. The Bill received Royal Assent on 29th April 2026. Useful Links Phaselaw [https://www.phase.law/guardians] Defend Digital Me [https://defenddigitalme.org/about/] No2ID [https://www.no2id.uk/] GeneWatch UK [https://www.genewatch.org/] The Data Justice Lab [https://datajusticelab.org/] Med Confidential [https://medconfidential.org/] US Teen Social Media Addiction Case [https://actnowtraining.blog/2026/04/20/could-childrens-use-of-social-media-be-banned-in-the-uk/] DfE ICO Reprimand [https://actnowtraining.blog/2022/11/07/ico-reprimands-dfe-for-misuse-of-childrens-information-a-proportionate-response-or-a-let-off/] NHS Palantir Deal [https://actnowtraining.blog/2023/11/22/the-nhs-palantir-deal-a-pandoras-box-for-patient-privacy/] Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'Neil [https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/304513/weapons-of-math-destruction-by-oneil-cathy/9780141985411] ADRN Ipsos Mori(2014). Dialogue on data: Exploring the public's views on using administrative data for research purposes [https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/migrations/en-uk/files/Assets/Docs/Publications/sri-dialogue-on-data-2014-annexe.pdf] Evaluation report of the children missing education database pilot (Wales) 2025-26 [https://www.gov.wales/evaluation-children-missing-education-database-pilot]  This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw [https://www.phase.law/guardians] - a purpose-built solution for document disclosures, like subject access requests and FOI requests. Instead of redacting PDFs one by one, or forcing litigation software to do a job it wasn't designed for, with Phaselaw you get collection, review, and redaction in one workflow. Teams across the World are using it to cut response times from weeks to days. For Guardians of Data listeners, Phaselaw is offering a two-month free trial; run it on live requests, see what it does to your backlog, decide from there. No card, no commitment.

Building Trustworthy and Responsible AI Systems

“Information governance professionals are the bedrock for deploying good governance of AI. We need to be there at the start of the actual thinking process.” Tahir Latif, Global Practice Lead for Data Privacy & Responsible AI at Cognizant In this episode, we’re diving into one of the biggest questions of our time: How do we build trustworthy and responsible AI systems? To help us answer this question, we are joined by someone who’s right at the heart of the conversation. Tahir Latif is a distinguished expert on building responsible and transparent AI systems. He is the Global Practice Lead for Data Privacy & Responsible AI at Cognizant, one of the largest global professional services companies. Tahir has led complex privacy and AI programmes across multiple industry sectors both in the UK and globally. He is also the Chief AI and Governance Officer and board member at the Ethical AI Alliance, a not for profit body which promotes ethical standards in AI development. In our conversation, we explore how to cut through the complexity of ethical AI, what the future holds, and most importantly, what practical steps IG professionals can take to succeed in this new landscape. Useful Links Phaselaw [https://www.phase.law/guardians] Ethical AI Alliance [https://ethicalaialliance.org/] Cognizant [https://www.cognizant.com/us/en/about-cognizant] Data Privacy Handbook [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTMXMRGF] This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw [https://www.phase.law/guardians] - a purpose-built solution for document disclosures, like subject access requests and FOI requests. Instead of redacting PDFs one by one, or forcing litigation software to do a job it wasn't designed for, with Phaselaw you get collection, review, and redaction in one workflow. Teams across the World are using it to cut response times from weeks to days. For Guardians of Data listeners, Phaselaw is offering a two-month free trial; run it on live requests, see what it does to your backlog, decide from there. No card, no commitment.

Filming the Public for Social Media

Think about the last time you walked down a busy street, sat in a pub or queued for a train. Now imagine that moment - completely ordinary to you - being filmed by a stranger, uploaded to TikTok or YouTube and watched by millions. Maybe it’s monetised; maybe it’s mocked. One thing is for sure though, it never disappears. Filming people in public has now become second nature for some. But what happens when those images are shared, edited and turned into social media content? Can you stop someone filming you in public? What rights do you have when the footage is published? In this episode, we are joined by Naomi Mathews [https://www.actnow.org.uk/naomimatthews], a lawyer who specialises in Data Protection, Freedom of Information and Surveillance Law. Naomi helps us explore what the law actually says about filming people in public, where it falls short and how that affects real people who find themselves turned into content without consent. We’ll also ask the harder questions about ethics, power and whether the UK needs a new law to better protect the public. Useful Links Blog Post on Filming People in Public  [https://actnowtraining.blog/2026/01/26/is-it-legal-to-film-people-in-public-for-social-media/] This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw [https://www.phase.law/guardians] - a purpose-built solution for document disclosures, like subject access requests and FOI requests. Instead of redacting PDFs one by one, or forcing litigation software to do a job it wasn't designed for, with Phaselaw you get collection, review, and redaction in one workflow. Teams across the World are using it to cut response times from weeks to days. For Guardians of Data listeners, Phaselaw is offering a two-month free trial; run it on live requests, see what it does to your backlog, decide from there. No card, no commitment.