Tech This Out!

Why are the world's most elite schools turning away from screens?

Something surprising is happening in the world’s most expensive schools and it has nothing to do with technology. In this episode, 5Rights Youth Ambassador Mithesh sits down with Mark West from UNESCO to challenge what we think we know about tech in schools and ask whether EdTech is living up to its promises or leaving students behind. Together, they unpack why human connection can’t be coded and what it would take to design a digital future for schools that actually puts children and young people first.  
 
This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the pioneering global organisation working with and for children for better tech. Visit our website to learn more about our work. 

Privacy for sale? How EdTech companies profit from students’ data

When students sit an exam remotely or even buy a candy bar at a vending machine during a break, their information is collected, tracked and often used in ways they never agreed to. In this episode, 5Rights Youth Ambassador Maximilian sits down with Patricia Kosseim, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (Canada), to uncover what really happens to student data behind the scenes. Together, they explore how EdTech companies profit from children’s information, the deceptive design practices that make it hard to say no and how regulators and schools can take the next step to protect student privacy.  
 
This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the pioneering global organisation working with and for children for better tech. Visit our website to learn more about our work. 
 
Ready to learn more about student privacy? Find below the resources and tools mentioned in the episode: 
In the forthcoming 2025 Global Privacy Enforcement Network sweep, more than 30 data protection agencies from around the world examined websites and apps commonly used by young people. The IPC focused specifically on EdTech products and their privacy settings. 
In the joint resolution on EdTech, Canada’s privacy regulators call for strong protection of children’s privacy in the development and use of educational technologies. 
Identifying and mitigating harms from privacy-related deceptive design patterns is a joint resolution issued by privacy regulators from across Canada calling for action on the growing use of deceptive design patterns. 
The PowerSchool Investigation Report includes the findings of the investigations into the privacy breach involving PowerSchool, a tool used by schools in Ontario and Alberta. 
The Youth Ambassador Toolkit offers children and young people knowledge and resources about the importance of privacy and privacy rights.  
The Privacy Pursuit! Lesson Plans are for educators teaching students about the importance of privacy and how to protect it online.  
For even more guidance for children, students, educators and parents, including the Info Matters podcast, please visit the IPC website.  

Is AI harder to govern than other technologies?

From the classroom to government services, artificial intelligence is quietly reshaping how children learn, play, and grow but who gets to decide how? In this final episode of our AI trilogy, 5Rights Youth Ambassador Skye interviews UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies Amandeep Singh Gill to explore the urgent need for global AI governance that puts children’s rights first. Together, they unpack why most national AI strategies barely consider children’s rights and needs, how tech companies can be held accountable across borders and why the voices of children from the Global South must be central to shaping AI’s future. Discover what it really takes to ensure AI serves all children and not just the privileged few. 
This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the only global organisation working with and for children for better tech. Visit our website to learn more about our work: https://5rightsfoundation.com/ 

Smart tool or subtle manipulation? Unpacking AI’s impact on children

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses issues of mental health and loneliness. If you are affected by any of these issues, please seek support from a trusted adult or licensed professional. Here is a list of child-friendly helplines: https://childhelplineinternational.org/helplines/ 
From homework helper to creative companion, AI is already woven into young people's daily lives in ways we're only beginning to understand. But as this powerful technology becomes invisible and everywhere, what does it mean for how children learn, create, and connect? In this month's episode, 5Rights Youth Ambassador Aisling sits down with Dr. Jun Zhao from Oxford University's Child-Centred AI Design Lab to explore both the promise and the pitfalls of growing up with artificial intelligence. Together, they examine the concerning risks of over-reliance, manipulation, and surveillance that children face in our data-driven world—while also exploring how AI can spark creativity and support learning when used thoughtfully. 
This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the only global organisation working with and for children for better tech. Visit our website to learn more about our work: https://5rightsfoundation.com/ 

Not a friend, not a therapist: the limits of AI chatbots

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses issues of mental health, loneliness and eating disorders. If you are affected by any of these issues, please seek support from a trusted adult or licensed professional. Here is a list of child-friendly helplines: https://childhelplineinternational.org/helplines/  
AI chatbots promise 24/7 support without judgement – but can they ever truly replace a friend or a therapist? In this month’s episode, 5Rights Youth Ambassador, Ali, sits down with Mie Oehlenschläger - a member of the Danish Council on Ethics and President of 5Rights - EU – to unpack the design and data choices behind AI chatbots. Together, they explore why chatbots feel so real, the hidden risks on children’s mental health and privacy, and practical questions young people can ask themselves before interacting with a chatbot. 
This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the only global organisation working with and for children for better tech. Visit our website to learn more: 5rightsfoundation.com