Guardians of Data

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A show where we explore the world of information law and governance; from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information. In each episode we will be speaking with experts and practitioners to unpack the big issues shaping the IG profession.

9h ago

Managing Workplace Data Protection Risks

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. Useful Links Phaselaw Capsticks ICO Employment Practices Code: Supplementary Guidance Employee DPA Prosecutions The Morrisons Vicarious Liability Case 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.
Jul 8

The Hidden Algorithms Behind Modern Policing

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 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.
Jun 24

The Impact of AI on Cybersecurity

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 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.
Jun 10

Beyond GDPR: The Real Purpose of Data Protection

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 Alegre 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.
May 27

Inside FOI Journalism

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 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.
May 13

Government Plans for Children's Data

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 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.
Apr 29

Building Trustworthy and Responsible AI Systems

“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 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.
Apr 15

Filming the Public for Social Media

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 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.

A show where we explore the world of information law and governance; from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information. In each episode we will be speaking with experts and practitioners to unpack the big issues shaping the IG profession.

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Act Now Training
Years Active

2026
Episodes

13
Rating

Explicit
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© 2026 Guardians of Data
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