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.

3d ago

FOI and Transparency in Practice

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 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.
Sep 2

Employee Surveillance Without Losing Trust

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 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.
Aug 19

Analysing Human Relationships with AI Chatbots

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 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.
Aug 5

Handling AI Generated Information Requests

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 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 22

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. 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 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.

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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