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Tietosuoja haltuun harrastustoiminnassa -hankkeen logo, jossa on tietosuojalainsäädäntöön ja lapsiin liittyvä kirjainlyhenne GDPR4CHLDRN. Tietosuoja haltuun harrastustoiminnassa -hankkeen logo, jossa on tietosuojalainsäädäntöön ja lapsiin liittyvä kirjainlyhenne GDPR4CHLDRN.
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  • Front page
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  • Material bank
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  • English
    • Suomi
    • Svenska
    • English
  • Front page
  • Guiding materials
    • Board of the association
    • Coaches and instructors
    • Parents
    • Children and young people
  • Material bank
    • Term bank
    • Quizzes
    • Downloadable materials
    • Data protection icons 
    • Articles
  • Information on the site
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  1. Front page
  2. Parents
  3. Data protection FAQ for parents
  4. What age must a child be to make decisions on matters concerning their personal data?
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Parents

  • Starting page
  • Basic information for parents on the processing of children's personal data
    • Why is it necessary to collect personal data?
    • Where can I check what personal data is being processed about my child or family?
    • What should I do if I think that there are errors in the data collected on my child?
  • Data protection FAQ for parents
    • What kinds of data are collected about my child and/or adolescent in their hobby?
    • Is data about parents collected in my child's and/or adolescent's hobby?
    • Why is personal data collected?
    • For how long will the hobby organiser keep my data and that of my underage child?
    • What data protection rights does my child/adolescent have, and can I exercise them on the child's/adolescent's behalf as their parent?
    • Is it OK in hobby activities to send email with the names of all the recipients displayed in the recipient field?
    • Is someone with access to the addresses of people participating in the hobby allowed to give my address if someone asks for it?
    • What age must a child be to make decisions on matters concerning their personal data?
    • My child's data has been disclosed for direct marketing. Is that allowed?
    • What does 'information society services intended for children' mean?
    • As a parent, can I post photos of my child and their friends on platforms like Facebook?
  • Articles for parents

What age must a child be to make decisions on matters concerning their personal data?

The icon features a child holding a balloon. On the right-hand side of the child, there is a rectangle representing information and a magnifying glass. The icon is surrounded by a light green frame. The icon can be used to show that the personal data being processed or instructions that relate to processing of data concern children.

As a rule, fundamental rights such as data protection do not depend on a person’s age. Children and young people have the right to their own personal data and the right to exercise their data protection rights independently. A child of a certain age can be capable of refusing their parents access to their personal data, for example.

On the other hand, children also have the right to the necessary protection and care from adults. In other words, the full realisation of the rights of the child requires balancing the child’s rights of participation with the rights that ensure the child’s protection. According to the UN Committee of the Rights of the Child, as a child gains knowledge and experience, their parents must move from orders and instructions to reminders and advice. The Committee has pointed out that children mature at their unique pace (UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, General comment No. 20 (2016) on the implementation of the rights of the child during adolescence).

It is fairly evident that a child of 6 is probably not capable of making independent decisions on matters involving their personal data, but rely on their parents to manage things for them. A 16-year-old, on the other hand, can be fully capable of making independent decisions on the subject. That said, a child of 16 may still need support from their parents for managing their own affairs. It would be a good idea to ask your child or adolescent whether they are capable of deciding on matters involving their personal data, or do they need parental support for things like signing up for hobbies.

Is someone with access to the addresses of people participating in the hobby allowed to give my address if someone asks for it?
My child's data has been disclosed for direct marketing. Is that allowed?
The logo of the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman.
The logo of TIEKE Finnish Information Society Development Centre.

The European Union flag, with the text "Funded by the European Union" on its right-hand side.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Information on the website

The site contains material that provide information on data protection legislation and the protection of personal data, especially for children and young people aged 13–17, their parents, and associations that organise hobby activities. The website has been developed in the GDPR4CHLDRN – Ensuring data protection in hobbies project (2022–2024) implemented by the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman and TIEKE.

Feedback about the site can be given by e-mail to the address tietosuoja@om.fi. In the message field, you must mention tietosuojaharrastuksissa.fi, so that the feedback is directed to the correct address.

  • Data protection on the website
  • Accessibility statement
Guiding materials
  • Board of the association
  • Coaches and instructors
  • Parents
  • Children and young people

© 2024 Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman and TIEKE. The site uses free Font Awesome icons. The icons have not been changed. License: CC BY 4.0

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