The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has run an initial consultation with children, young people and parents and carers, to learn their views about online privacy.
Last year, the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act (2024) introduced a mandate for the OAIC to develop a Children's Online Privacy Code (the Code). This new Code, due to come into effect at the end of next year and will specify how online services that are likely to be accessed by children must comply with the Australian Privacy Principles .
We want to ensure that the Code reflects the real experiences and needs of children and their families. To this end, back in May and June 2025, the OAIC invited children, young people and parents and carers to share their views about children's online privacy to ensure that the Code reflects their voices and experiences.
We asked children in Years 3 to 6, teens in Years 7–12 and parents and carers to tell us how they feel about children's online privacy. Over 337 participants completed worksheets that asked questions about online privacy. Participants were presented with several scenario-based exercises and then asked a series of open-ended questions. The children expressed, in their own words, their perspectives in response to the open-ended questions.
You can access the full summary of children, young people and parents and carers responses to our questions, including quotes in their words.
This consultation forms the first part of a three-phrase approach. Phase 1(January-August 2025) involved children, parents and relevant organisations focused on children's welfare. Phase 2 (April-August 2025) involved consultations with industry stakeholders, civil society and academia. Phase 3 will involve a public consultation on the draft Code, lasting a minimum of 60 days, in 2026.
In recognition of this consultation process, the OAIC has created a specific report about the consultations for children. This children's consultation report , when shared with children, allows children and young people to engage with their own views and gain insight into the views shared by others within their own cohort.
We encourage you to share the downloadable Children's Online Privacy Code - children's consultation report with the children and young people in your lives.
Finally, the OAIC would like to thank everyone, especially the children and young people, who made submissions in response to this important consultation process.
