How should organizations handle data of minors?

Organizations must handle the data of minors with a higher level of care and responsibility. This is largely because minors may not possess the same capacity as adults to understand the implications of data sharing and privacy. As a result, many data privacy regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and various state laws in the United States, mandate that parental or guardian consent is required before collecting or processing personal data from individuals under a certain age (often 13 or 16, depending on the jurisdiction).

Obtaining parental consent ensures that organizations are operating within legal frameworks and safeguarding the rights and privacy of minors. This requirement aligns with the principle of protecting those who may not fully grasp the potential risks associated with their data being shared or used. Organizations must clearly communicate what data is being collected, how it will be used, and the rights of the minor, all while ensuring that parental understanding and consent are prioritized.

In this context, options suggesting that data can be processed without restrictions, only collected in anonymized forms, or must be deleted immediately do not reflect the careful approach mandated by data protection laws. These regulations are designed to provide tailored protections for minors to help mitigate risks associated with data processing.