Category: Podcast

New Podcast: Employee Surveillance Without Losing Trust 

Last year’s report by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) suggests that use of workplace monitoring technology has increased substantially in recent years. 1 in 3 organisations now actively monitor their employees’digital activity.  

Employee monitoring is nothing new. In the past this would have involved CCTV and telephone monitoring as well as vehicle tracking. But new technologies, particularly AI, are taking it to another level. Employers can now collect much more detailed information about what their employees do, where they are and how they work. This information is increasingly being used, with AI and algorithms, to allocate tasks and assess employee performance. 

In July, the UK government launched a consultation on the use of workplace monitoring technologies including surveillance tools, algorithmic management systems and AI-enabled decision-making. The closing date to respond is 30th September 2026. The consultation seeks views on whether additional regulation is needed to improve transparency, worker engagement and accountability when employers monitor workers.  

But just because employers can monitor employees, does it mean they 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 when human judgement and relationships are replaced by algorithms? 

We answer these questions in the latest episode of the Guardians of Data podcast.
The host, Ibrahim Hasan, is joined by Professor Kirstie Ball from the University of St Andrews. Kirstie is an internationally recognised expert on workplace surveillance and the author of “Electronic Monitoring and Surveillance in the Workplace”, a report  published by the European Union. She 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 Information Commissioner’s Office. 

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 as well as whether technology designed to improve performance can sometimes have the opposite effect. 

Listen on your preferred platform via our podcast page, or download the episode directly.

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. The 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. 

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. 

Head to https://www.phase.law/guardians to claim your free trial.  

Previous episodes of the Guardians of Data podcast have featured Dr. Agnieszka Piotrowska talking about the profound ways that generative AI is changing human relationships, Caroline Wong explaining the impact of AI on Cybersecurity, Andrew Latham talking about the data protection risks in employment and Ilyas Nagdee analysing the impact of predictive policing on human rights.

New Podcast: Analysing Human Relationships with AI Chatbots 

One of the most popular BBC comedies of late is Ann Droid. The main character, Sue (Sue Johnstone from Brookside and the Royle Family) is still grieving for her late husband when her son buys her a surprise to help her live independently: an Ann Droid Z58/100 humanoid care robot. Sue initially rejects her new companion but learns to live with it and eventually grows very fond of it, sharing her inner most thoughts and fears. The show is of course set in the future, but how long will it take for the central premise to become reality? 

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: In April 2025, OpenAI rolled back an update to GPT-4o after users complained that the chatbot had become excessively flattering and agreeable. OpenAI described the behaviour as ”sycophantic” and acknowledged that the model could go beyond ordinary flattery, including validating doubts, fuelling anger, encouraging impulsive actions and reinforcing negative emotions. 

What was perhaps more surprising was that GPT-4’s eventual retirement prompted some users to describe a genuine sense of loss. At the same time, lawsuits alleging that AI chatbots have caused 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 the latest episode of the Guardians of Data podcast, 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. 

Listen on your preferred platform via our podcast page, or download the episode directly.

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 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. 

Head to https://www.phase.law/guardians to claim your free trial.  

Previous episodes of the Guardians of Data podcast have featured Caroline Wong talking about the impact of AI on Cybersecurity, Jen Persson, a privacy campaigner, explaining the privacy implications of the Government’s new plans for children’s data, and Ilyas Nagdee analysing the impact of predictive policing in human rights. 

New Podcast: Handling AI Generated Information Requests

Many organisations are seeing a massive increase in AI generated Freedom of Information requests and GDPR Subject Access Requests (SARs). For example, Lincolnshire County Council received almost 2000 FOI requests in the last financial year; an increase of 18% compared to the previous year. No doubt the same is the case for SARs. 

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 loaded information governance departments. Not only are more requests coming through; they are often longer, broader and difficult to interpret.  

In the latest episode of the Guardians of Data podcast we guide information governance practitioners to help them manage and lawfully respond to AI generated information requests. Our guest is Saara Idelbi from 39 Essex Chambers. Saara practises in administrative law, human rights, data protection and information rights. She is named by the Legal 500 as a ‘leading junior’ barrister. Saara is a recognised voice on AI and the law and is the co-founder of Advocatr, an AI legal training platform. 

Listen on your preferred platform via our podcast page, or download the episode directly, for practical guidance on how to handle AI generated information requests whilst respecting the key principles of information rights legislation: openness, transparency and accountability.  

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’tdesigned 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. 

Head to https://www.phase.law/guardians to claim your free trial.  

Previous episodes of the Guardians of Data podcast have featured Caroline Wong talking about the impact of AI on Cybersecurity, Jen Persson, a privacy campaigner, explaining the privacy implications of the Government’s new plans for children’s data, and Ilyas Nagdee analysing the impact of predictive policing in human rights.

New Podcast: 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 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; and 
  • how 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.  

Listen on your preferred platform via our podcast page, or download the episode directly.

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’tdesigned 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. 

Head to https://www.phase.law/guardians to claim your free trial.  

Previous episodes of the Guardians of Data podcast have featured Caroline Wong talking about responsible the impact of AI on Cybersecurity, Jen Persson, a privacy campaigner, explaining the privacy implications of the Government’s new plans for children’s data, and Ilyas Nagdee analysing the impact of predictive policing in human rights.

New Podcast: The Hidden Algorithms Behind Modern Policing

“There’s a significant lack of transparency around police use of predictive policing systems in the UK. Most people don’t even know about their use in policing… People don’t know, if they are ever stopped and searched by police, it’s as a result of a predictive profiling or risk assessment system… So there is a significant lack of transparency, which is particularly worrying given the lack of regulation.” 

Ilyas Nagdee, Amnesty International 

Episode 12 of the Guardians of Data Podcast is out now. 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. 

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. 

Listen on your preferred platform via our podcast page, or download the episode directly.

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. 

Head to https://www.phase.law/guardians to claim your free trial.  

Previous episodes of the Guardians of Data podcast have featured Caroline Wong discussing the impact of AI on cyber security, Emma Martins explaining the importance of data protection legislation, Tahir Latif talking about responsible AI deployment and Jen Persson explaining the privacy implications of the Government’s new plans for children’s data. 

New Podcast: The Impact of AI on Cybersecurity  

“Today, it’s actually very, very easy for attackers to take a piece of malware and effectively launch one hundred different versions all at once.” 

Caroline Wong, Author and Cybersecurity Expert 

Episode 11 of the Guardians of Data Podcast is out now. 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.  

Whether you’re a privacy practitioner, cybersecurity professional or simply interested in understanding how AI is transforming the digital world around us, this is a conversation packed with practical insights and thought-provoking ideas.   

Listen on your preferred platform via our podcast page, or download the episode directly.

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. 

Head to https://www.phase.law/guardians to claim your free trial.  

Previous episodes of the Guardians of Data podcast have featured Tahir Latif talking about responsible AI deployment, Jen Persson, a privacy campaigner, explaining the privacy implications of the Government’s new plans for children’s data, Naomi Mathews and Ibrahim Hasan explaining the law on filming people in public for social media and Olu Odeniyi analysing recent cyber breaches and discussing the lessons learnt.

New Podcast: Beyond GDPR – The Real Purpose of Data Protection 

“Think clarity of purpose. Find your why. Find the reason that you’re doing what you do. It just puts fire in my belly every day knowing that I have such a clarity of purpose.” 

Emma Martins, Former Data Protection Commissioner for Guernsey 

Episode 10 of the Guardians of Data Podcast is out now. It 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 profession 
  • And how we can all move from being seen as blockers to becoming trusted cultural leaders inside our organisations 

This 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.  

Listen on your preferred platform via our podcast page, or download the episode directly.

Emma also shared her recommended books and films/dramas about privacy, AI and data protection. You can find these in the episode show notes.

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. 

Head to https://www.phase.law/guardians to claim your free trial.  

Previous episodes of the Guardians of Data podcast have featured Tahir Latif talking about responsible AI deployment, Jen Persson, a privacy campaigner, explaining the privacy implications of the Government’s new plans for children’s data, Naomi Mathews and Ibrahim Hasan explaining the law on filming people in public for social media and Olu Odeniyi analysing recent cyber breaches and discussing the lessons learnt.

New Podcast: Learning from a Journalist’s Use of FOI  

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 opennesss and transparency. This requires a good understanding of journalists’ motivation, tactics and pressures. 

In the latest episode of the Guardians of Data podcast we are joined by Martin Rosenbaum. Martin spent 16 years at the BBC as the organisation’s leading specialist in using FOI for journalism. Over that time, he broke major stories, trained reporters, and took cases all the way to tribunal hearings. His investigations have covered everything from private conversations between Tony Blair and Bill Clinton, to the policing of Greenham Common protests, to the flaws in the honours system. 

Martin is also 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. 

In this podcast episode, we talk about: 

  • How journalists use FOI to uncover the truth and inform the public 
  • The tactics that make the difference between a successful request and a dead end 
  • How FOI has evolved since its introduction  
  • And what information professionals can learn from the media’s use of this powerful tool 

Whether you work in information governance, public service, or the media, or you simply believe in transparency and accountability, this conversation will give you practical insights into how FOI really works and why it still matters today. 

Listen on your preferred platform via our podcast page, or download the episode directly.

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. 

Head to https://www.phase.law/guardians to claim your free trial.  

Previous episodes of the Guardians of Data podcast have featured Tahir Latif talking about responsible AI deployment, Jen Persson, a privacy campaigner, explaining the privacy implications of the Government’s new plans for children’s data, Naomi Mathews and Ibrahim Hasan explaining the law on filming people in public for social media and Olu Odeniyi analysing recent cyber breaches and discussing the lessons learnt.

New Podcast: The Government’s Plans For Our Children’s Data

“I think privacy is often given a bad name. We talk about it in abstract terms; we should abandon thinking about it in that way. What you do to my data, you do to me. There is no real distinction anymore between our online life and our offline life. So whatever you know about me through my digital footprint, you know about my real life.” 

Jen Persson, Director of Defend Digital Me 

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 initiatives from the UK Government, such as 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 our latest Guardians of Data 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. 

Our guest is 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. Jen said: 

“Everybody wants to keep children safe… I think the important thing in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools [Act], is that there is so much going through it that is untested and unevidenced. So some of our work has been to analyse that as it went through Parliament. For example, the single unique identifier is only part of the data aspects of the [Act], but it’s very vague and there’s been very little explanation in writing or in Parliament.” 

Listen on your preferred platform via our podcast page, or download the episode directly.

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. 

Head to https://www.phase.law/guardians to claim your free trial.  

Previous episodes of the Guardians of Data podcast have featured Tahir Latif talking about responsible AI deployment, Naomi Mathews and Ibrahim Hasan explaining the law on filming people in public for social media, Maurice Frenkel looking back at 20 years of the Freedom of Information Act and Olu Odeniyi analysing recent cyber breaches and discussing the lessons learnt.

New Podcast: 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 

The last two years has seen a massive increase in AI deployment. Previously the domain of Science Fiction, AI is now everywhere – in our workplaces, our personal lives, and in the systems that shape society. From healthcare to security and law enforcement. But alongside the opportunities, there are some big risks: including lack of accuracy and transparency as well as bias and discrimination. 

In this episode, we dive 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 is 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 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. Tahir is the co-author of Data Privacy – A Practical Handbook on Governance and Operation.

In this 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. 

Listen on your preferred platform via our podcast page, or download the episode directly.

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. 

Head to https://www.phase.law/guardians to claim your free trial.  

Previous episodes of the Guardians of Data podcast have featured  Naomi Mathews and Ibrahim Hasan explaining the law on filming people in public for social media, Maurice Frenkel looking back at 20 years of the Freedom of Information Act, Olu Odeniyi analysing recent cyber breaches and discussing the lessons to learn and Raz Edwards talking about how to succeed as an IG leader.