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In episode 18, we spoke to Professor Mark Mon-Williams about the concept of connected data: how bringing information together can deliver joined-up public services and improve outcomes for children and young people. That leads to a practical question: how do organisations share information in a way, which is fair, lawful and transparent?. This episode looks at the governance mechanisms required that can turn the promise of connected data into better services and better outcomes. Having data is one thing, but we need to also ensure we have the governance, agreements and accountability in place. A great example of where this has been done can be found in WASPI, the Wales Accord on the Sharing of Personal Information,  and the new UK GDPR Code of Conduct for Information Sharing Protocols which was recently approved by the Information Commission. In this episode we explore: How WASPI works in practiceWhat the Code of Conduct for Information Sharing Protocols adds to itHow it can help organisations move from asking whether information can be shared to ensuring it is shared lawfully with robust governance And what other parts of the UK can learn from the Welsh experience.My guest is Dave Parsons, who has worked in information governance for twenty years, including many yearsin local government in Wales. As the WASPI code manager, Dave has played a leading role in developing WASPI and the new code of conduct.  Useful Links Podcast - Connected Data  The WASPI Service ICO Announcement WASPI on LinkedIn https://www.waspi.gov.wales/code-of-conduct/ https://www.waspi.gov.wales/news/waspi-uk-gdpr-code-of-conduct-for-information-sharing-protocols-published/ https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/government-data-sharing-pandemic Phaselaw Send us Fan Mail This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw - 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.

How can we make better use of the information already held about children to improve their lives? That is the question explored in the latest episode of the Guardians of Data podcast. Ibrahim Hasan is joined by Professor Mark Mon-Williams, who holds a Chair in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Leeds, and is Professor of Psychology at the Bradford Institute of Health Research. Mark argues that children and families do not fit neatly into the organisational silos in which public services operate. A school may see attendance and educational needs, a GP may hold health information, and social care may have a different part of the picture. When those pieces remain disconnected, important patterns can be missed. As Mark puts it, “the challenge is to move from fragmented services towards a more holistic, child-centred approach”. Mark is one of the executive authors of a report (Connecting Data: Intelligent and informed delivery to support every child to succeed ) which was published in July 2026 by a group of academics, education professionals and children’s services practitioners. The report suggests a new model approach for information sharing to improve the lives of children and young people (Connected Data).  In this podcast, we explore how the Connected Bradford project, is putting that approach into practice, and discuss examples where linking health and education data has revealed issues that would have been difficult to identify from individual datasets alone. But this isn't simply a conversation about the benefits of connecting data. The UK has tried to improve information sharing before, from ContactPoint to Care.Data, and those experiences raise important questions about privacy, governance and public trust. We discuss what is different about the Connected Data model, including its emphasis on devolved systems, secure environments and community engagement. We also examine the emerging policy landscape, including the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 and the proposed education data spine, and ask what greater connectivity could mean for the future of children’s services. And there is a wider question: as public-sector data infrastructure increasingly involves major technology companies, how do we ensure that public data remains under public control?  Listen now and join the conversation about how we can connect data to improve children’s lives while protecting their rights, privacy and trust.  Useful Links New Child of the North report Child of the North campaign Born in Bradford Project The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration  Podcast - The Government's Plans for Children's Data  Phaselaw Send us Fan Mail This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw - 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.

In the UK, Freedom of Information laws are now more than 20 years old. If you want to understand how they have impacted the way government operates, there are plenty of clues in the news headlines over the last few years; from the Covid Inquiry to the Peter Mandleson affair and the release of the Epstein files. In this podcast we are joined by Dr Ben Worthy, a Reader in Politics and Public Policy at Birkbeck College, University of London. Ben has written extensively on issues around Transparency and Freedom of Information including authoring the book “The Politics of FOI”. Ben discusses the research studies that he has conducted into FOI practice in various sectors, to give us an insight into the practice and effectiveness of FOI in achieving transparency. We also explore what transparency actually looks like inside government and the wider public sector, what FOI can (and can’t) achieve and where transparency in the UK might be heading next. Hit the play button to start listening to Ben's insights. If you want more perspectives on this important topic be sure to check out our other podcast episodes. In Episode 3, Maurice Frankel , the Director of the Campaign for Freedom of Information explains the history of FOI and his views on current and future challenges to the legislation. In Episode 9 we talk to Martin Rosenbaum, an ex BBC Journalist, who also shares practical tips on dealing with FOI requests from journalists. Finally, in Episode 14 barrister, Saara Idelbi, gives practical advice on handling AI generated information requests. Further Resources Act Now FOI Blogs Worthy, B. (2025). Freedom of Information at 20. Political Insight, 16( 4), 34-36. https://doi.org/10.1177/20419058251403821 Government by WhatsApp? Covid, Transparency and Government by Text: https://politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/government-by-whatsapp-covid-transparency-and-government-by-text/ Ben Worthy & Megan Waugh (2024), "More open, more democratic or better at hiding? Two decades of local government transparency in the UK",  Report: https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/54509/9/54509a.pdf The Future of FOI: Martin’s view here: https://rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/registering-risk-with-andy-burnham FOI at 20: https://www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/article/the-freedom-of-information-act-turns-20-can-it-outwit-the-delete-button Transparency and FOI: https://www.bbk.ac.uk/events/event/54736/secrets-and-lies-does-more-transparency-make-for-better-politics  Send us Fan Mail This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw - 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.

In this episode we discuss workplace monitoring of employees. Employers have always made use of the latest technology to monitor employees. In the past this would have involved things like CCTV and telephone monitoring and vehicle tracking. But new technologies, particularly AI, are taking employee surveillance to another level. Employers can now collect much more detailed information about what employees do, where they are and how they work. This is increasingly being used, with AI and algorithms, to allocate tasks and assess employee performance. But just because we can monitor employees more, does it mean we should? Can surveillance really improve productivity? What happens to trust when employees know that every action can be measured? And as AI takes on more employee management functions, what are employers losing? To help answer these questions, I'm joined by Professor Kirstie Ball from the University of St Andrews. Kirstie is an internationally recognised expert on workplace surveillance and the author of the report Electronic Monitoring and Surveillance in the Workplace which was published by the European Union in 2021. Kirstie is also the co-director and founder of the Centre for Research into Information, Surveillance and Privacy and has been a consultant to the UK's Information Commissioner.  The focus of this podcast is not the law on workplace monitoring. It's a conversation about what happens when surveillance changes the relationship between employers and employees. We talk about trust, dignity, autonomy and wellbeing; and about whether technology designed to improve performance can sometimes have the opposite effect. Click the play button to jump in. Please complete Kirsty's Survey You are invited to complete this survey if you have used the ICO’s Data Protection and Worker Monitoring Guidance.  This survey asks you whether you have noticed any changes in your and others’ understanding of electronic monitoring as a data protection issue, and if you have noticed any changes in compliance since using the guidance. It takes five minutes to complete. https://standrews.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5cdnck6giupnLSu Useful Links Podcast - The Hidden Algorithms Behind Modern Policing  JRC report ‘Electronic Monitoring and Surveillance in the Workplace’   Saints Talk: ‘Employee Surveillance: Risks, Wellbeing and Justice’  Surveillance in the workplace: Past, present, future (shorter summary of the report in the journal Surveillance and Society)   GDPR and Employee Surveillance  ICO’s Data Protection and Worker Monitoring Guidance ICO Guide to Workplace Monitoring Podcast - Managing Workplace Data Protection Risks  Phaselaw Send us Fan Mail This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw - 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.

In recent years, we’ve seen a remarkable shift in the way people use AI chatbots. They are no longer simply tools for answering questions or writing emails. Many people are entering into deep conversations with the likes of ChatGPT and Claude often forming emotional and even romantic relationships with them. Last year’s controversy surrounding GPT-4o was a striking example: that particular model’s unusually agreeable and flattering responses to user queries raised concerns about AI reinforcing unhealthy beliefs, while its eventual retirement prompted some users to describe a genuine sense of loss. At the same time, lawsuits involving AI chatbots allegedly causing harm to vulnerable young people have raised serious questions about emotional dependency and the responsibilities of the companies developing these systems.  So what is actually happening when we begin to form relationships with machines that can talk to us, remember us and appear to understand us? And what does it tell us about ourselves?  In this episode, Ibrahim Hasan talks to psychologist, academic and award-winning filmmaker Dr. Agnieszka Piotrowska about the profound ways that generative AI is changing human relationships, drawing on the themes of her book AI Intimacy and Psychoanalysis.  We talk about why people form bonds with AI, the potential benefits for companionship, creativity and accessibility, and the risks surrounding privacy, emotional dependency, mental wellbeing and digital amnesia. We also explore the importance of boundaries, education and proportionate regulation as AI grows more personalised and embedded in everyday life. Useful Links http://www.agnieszkapiotrowska.co.uk Relational AI Diaries Podcast Building Trustworthy AI Systems Podcast AI Blogs Phaselaw Send us Fan Mail This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw - 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.

If your organisation is being overloaded with AI generated Freedom of Information requests or GDPR Subject Access Requests (SARs) this podcast episode is for you.   Some would say AI has democratised and powered access to information. Large Language Models, like ChatGPT and Claude, can produce ‘perfectly written’ FOI requests and SARs at the touch of a button. But these are causing problems for over worked information governance departments. Not only are more requests coming through; they are often longer, broader and difficult to interpret.  In this episode we guide you on how to manage and lawfully respond to AI generated information requests. Our guest is Saara Idelbi from 39 Essex Chambers. Saara is recognised by the Legal 500 as a ‘leading junior’ barrister. She practises in administrative law, human rights, data protection and information rights. Saara is a recognised voice on AI and the law and is the co-founder of Advocatr, an AI legal training platform. Listen now for practical guidance on dealing with AI generated information requests whilst respecting the key principles of information rights legislation; openness, transparency and accountability.  You can also listen to episode 13 where information lawyer, Andrew Latham, gives his tips on AI generated subject access requests. More useful resources below: ICO Guidance Building Trustworthy AI Systems Podcast AI Blogs FOI Blogs Phaselaw Send us Fan Mail This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw - 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.

The biggest data protection challenges facing organisations do not stem solely from cyber-attacks or AI deployment; they also arise from employees. Sometimes it’s from an innocent mistake; an email sent to the wrong person, confidential information shared inadvertently or a document uploaded to the wrong system. In other cases, the issues are more serious; employees accessing information they have no business looking at, taking confidential data when they leave, or deliberately misusing personal information. When those situations arise, employers need to investigate what has happened, decide whether a breach needs to be reported to the ICO and manage employment law issues such as disciplinary action; all the while protect the rights of the individuals whose data is involved, including employees.  And then there's the inevitable employee Data Subject Access Request, or DSAR to deal with. Often made alongside a grievance or before Employment Tribunal proceedings, DSARs can present significant legal and practical challenges for employers trying to balance transparency with confidentiality and legal privilege. In episode 13 of the Guardians of Data podcast we explore: what happens when employees are involved in personal data breaches;the legal and practical issues arising when employees misuse personal data;how employers should approach workplace investigations involving personal data; andhow to respond effectively to employee Data Subject Access Requests.Our guest is Andrew Latham, a partner in the Public Law team at Capsticks, who specialises in data protection and privacy law.  Click the play button to jump in. --------------------------------------------- Useful Links Phaselaw Capsticks ICO Employment Practices Code: Supplementary Guidance Employee DPA Prosecutions The Morrisons Vicarious Liability Case Send us Fan Mail This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw - 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.

In this episode we discuss something that sounds like science fiction, but is already part of everyday policing in the UK; predictive policing. These are tools that use data and algorithms to help the police forecast crime, where it might happen and sometimes who might be involved. The idea is to use resources efficiently and cut crime. And there are reports that councils are also starting to use these systems (The Think Family Database.) But a recent report by Amnesty International, “Automated Racism” argues that predictive policing tools aren’t neutral; they may be reinforcing and scaling existing inequalities. The report argues that the data they use is biased, particularly against black and racialised communities in deprived areas.  In this conversation, we unpack what these tools actually are, how they’re being used, whether they work, and what the risks are, especially when combined with other technologies like facial recognition. Our guest is Ilyas Nagdee who is a human rights campaigner and the Racial Justice Director at Amnesty International UK. He has also written for The Guardian and is the co-author of a book entitled, Race to the Bottom: Reclaiming Antiracism, a critical study of anti-racist politics in the UK. Useful Links Phaselaw Amnesty International Automated Racism Report The Think Family Database Send us Fan Mail This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw - 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.

In this episode we discuss how AI is reshaping trust, identity, cybersecurity, and organisational accountability.  In recent weeks, governments, regulators and cyber security professionals have been gripped by the emergence of Mythos, the powerful AI model developed by Anthropic. Touted as capable of identifying software vulnerabilities at a level that rivals some of the world's most skilled human researchers, the model has generated excitement, concern and intense debate.    Against this backdrop, our guest on this podcast is an internationally renowned cybersecurity leader, educator and technology strategist. Caroline Wong is Chief Strategy Officer at Axari and the author of The AI Cybersecurity Handbook.   In this conversation, Caroline explains how cybercriminals are using AI to launch sophisticate cyber-attacks. We also discuss how organisations can use the same technology to strengthen their cyber defences.   But this conversation goes beyond the technical. We discuss why trust is becoming the central battleground in cybersecurity, how deepfakes and AI-generated content are reshaping the way we verify information, and why human judgment remains critical despite rapid advances in automation. We also take a closer look at Mythos itself and what it means for the future of cybersecurity.    Useful Links LinkedIn Learning Cybersecurity Courses Wake Up Podcast Series Phaselaw Send us Fan Mail This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw - 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.

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 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 professionAnd how we can all move from being seen as blockers to becoming trusted cultural leaders inside our organisationsThis 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 DilemmaCitizen FourTerms and Conditions May ApplyThe Great HackThe CircleEx MachinaCoded BiasMr Bates vs The Post OfficeThe Social NetworkMinority ReportCapture - BBCBooks The Age of Surveillance Capitalism - S ZuboffNothing to Hide - D SoloveBeyond Data - E RenierisYour Face Belongs to Us - K HillMore than a Glitch - M BroussardYou are Not a Gadget - J LanierThe Political Philosophy of AI - M CoeckleberghTechnology is Not Neutral - S HareData Ethics of Power - G HasselbachLogging Off - A Zeynap WaltonUnmasking AI - J BuolamwiniPrivacy is Power - C VelizHuman Rights, Robot Wrongs - S AlegreSend us Fan Mail This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw - 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.

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. Martin spent 16 years at the BBC as the organisation’s leading specialist in using FOI for journalism. He is the author of Freedom of Information: A Practical Guidebook - 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 publicThe tactics that make the difference between a successful request and a dead endHow FOI has evolved since its introduction And what information professionals can learn from the media’s use of this powerful toolIf you like this podcast, please listen to 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 Martin’s Blog Freedom of Information: A Practical Guidebook  Act Now FOI Blogs Send us Fan Mail This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw - 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.

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 and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 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 is joined by Jen Persson, Director of Defend Digital Me,  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 was still a Bill going through the final stages of Parliament. The Bill received Royal Assent on 29th April 2026. Useful Links Phaselaw Defend Digital Me No2ID GeneWatch UK The Data Justice Lab Med Confidential US Teen Social Media Addiction Case DfE ICO Reprimand NHS Palantir Deal Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'Neil ADRN Ipsos Mori(2014). Dialogue on data: Exploring the public's views on using administrative data for research purposes Evaluation report of the children missing education database pilot (Wales) 2025-26  Send us Fan Mail This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw - 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.

“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 was formerly 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 Ethical AI Alliance Data Privacy Handbook Send us Fan Mail This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw - 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.

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, 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  Send us Fan Mail This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw - 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.

In information governance, there is no substitute for learning from those who have walked the path before us. Experienced IG leaders bring a wealth of knowledge from years at the frontline of data protection and information rights. By sharing their stories, lessons learned and practical advice, they help both new starters and seasoned professionals grow in confidence, strengthen their practice and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. In this episode we are joined by Raz Edwards, Head of Data Security and Protection and DPO at Wolverhampton NHS Trust. Raz has over 17 years of experience as a Data Protection Officer, including more than a decade in the NHS. She is also Chair of the National Strategic Information Governance Network and serves as a member of the Upper Tribunal and First-Tier Tribunal in the Information Rights Jurisdiction. In our conversation, Raz shares her journey into Information Governance, the challenges she’s faced and overcome as an IG leader, her advice for both new starters and seasoned professionals and her perspective on the future of the profession. She also reflects on what she’s learned through her tribunal role and what it takes to succeed as an IG leader. Useful Links Raz Edwards Biography National Strategic Information Governance Network Send us Fan Mail This podcast is sponsored by Phaselaw - 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.