What Tech Companies Know About Your Children’s Data

Children’s data privacy is a growing concern in today’s digital age. Every time parents click “Accept” on user agreements or consent to cookies, they may unknowingly permit tech companies to collect and exploit their child’s personal information. Unlike older generations, children born in the last 15 years often have digital footprints that begin even before birth—raising serious ethical and legal questions.

How Tech Companies Track Children’s Data

Anthropologist Veronica Barassi’s research project, Child Citizen Data, reveals how much information is gathered on minors. From pregnancy apps and social media posts to school platforms and smart home devices, children’s data privacy is constantly at risk.

• Prenatal Tracking: Data profiles may start before a child is conceived, with fertility apps and online searches.

• Post-Birth Monitoring: Parents sharing milestones on Facebook or using health-tracking apps contribute to a growing digital dossier.

• School & Home Surveillance: Educational software, virtual assistants (like Alexa), and smart toys further expand data collection.

Who Has Access to This Data?

Barassi found that a child’s information can be shared with hundreds of companies—only a fraction of which are in the healthcare sector. Major tech firms like Google, Facebook, and Oracle routinely acquire and trade this data, alongside advertising and credit agencies.

Why Should Parents Worry?

While some argue “If you have nothing to hide, it doesn’t matter,” the reality is far more alarming:

• Predictive Profiling: AI analyzes family history, social media activity, and spending habits to make life-altering decisions.

• Discrimination Risks: Banks, insurers, and employers use these profiles to deny loans, raise premiums, or reject job applicants.

• Educational Exploitation: Data brokers sell children’s personal details—including ethnicity, religion, and financial status—to marketers and recruiters.

In one shocking case, researchers obtained data on 14-15-year-old girls seeking family planning services, proving how easily sensitive information is traded.

Biased Algorithms and Lasting Consequences

Barassi warns that AI systems inherit their creators’ biases. For example, predictive policing tools in the U.S. have reinforced racial discrimination due to flawed historical data.

The Bottom Line

Children’s data privacy isn’t just about ads—it shapes futures. As Barassi concludes, we cannot trust tech companies with our data. Without stronger regulations, profiling will continue influencing education, careers, and legal outcomes. The fight for data rights is a fight for human rights—and the time to act is now.

The article is published in public interest