This is the ODPA's monthly round-up of data-related developments from around the world.
On 1 March, the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) launched an investigation into ByteDance's TikTok, online forum Reddit, and image-sharing site Imgur regarding how these companies use children's personal data to generate recommendations through their algorithms:
Investigations announced into how social media and video sharing platforms use UK children’s personal information | ICO
On 3 March, the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) published a thought-leadership article about the organisation’s mission to make sure children can safely use online services without sacrificing their digital privacy:
Protecting children’s data in a digital world | ICO
On 5 March, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) lunched its Coordinated Enforcement Framework action for 2025 on the right to erasure or the ‘right to be forgotten’:
CEF 2025: Launch of coordinated enforcement on the right to erasure | European Data Protection Board
On 6 March, Barclays bank announced it would be paying out millions of pounds in compensation following a series of tech outages preventing customers from accessing their funds:
Barclays to pay millions as banks see month's worth of IT outages - BBC News
On 10 March, the BBC reported that a software bug had left NHS data vulnerable to hackers:
Software bug at firm left NHS data 'vulnerable to hackers' - BBC News
On 13 March, New Scientist published details of the UK tech secretary’s use of ChatGPT for policy advice after using freedom of information laws to obtain Peter Kyle’s records in what the publication believes is a world-first use of such legislation:
Revealed: how the UK tech secretary Peter Kyle uses ChatGPT for policy advice | New Scientist
On 21 March, Meta agreed to stop targeting a UK human rights campaigner with personalised ads after settling a landmark privacy case UK:
Statement on O'Carroll vs Meta | ICO
On 24 March, the use of the encrypted chat app Signal by senior members of the Trump administration was highlighted after a US journalist was inadvertently added to a discussion among senior national security officials about an impending US strike in Yemen:
The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans - The Atlantic (subscription only) / Trump's national security team's chat app leak stuns Washington - BBC News
On 24 March, the ICO released a statement on it’s ongoing joint investigation into genetic testing company 23andMe:
Statement on 23andMe investigation | ICO
On 26 March, the BBC and other global outlets reported on the DNA-testing company 23andMe’s bankruptcy and the issues that users have faced in trying to remove their data:
23andMe users struggle to delete their highly sensitive data - BBC News
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