"Privacy and Artificial Intelligence in Education – 'Your Data – Your Concern" Program

On October 22–23, 2025, a training conference titled “Privacy and Artificial Intelligence in Education” was held at the headquarters of the Personal Data Protection Office, inaugurating the 16th edition of the “Your Data – Your Concern” program. The event brought together teachers, school principals, experts, representatives of public administration, and institutions supporting the program. The 16th edition focuses on the role of artificial intelligence in education and on how new technologies affect students’ privacy, teaching ethics, and data security in schools.

Day 1 of the Conference – “Artificial Intelligence and Personal Data Protection in Education”.

The conference was opened by the President of the Personal Data Protection Office (UODO), Mirosław Wróblewski, who emphasized that personal data protection is becoming one of the pillars of civic education. “For me, as the President of the Personal Data Protection Office, educational activities are an extremely important part of our work. The ‘Your Data – Your Concern’ program is an example of how we can consistently and successfully build awareness of data protection among the youngest,” said Mirosław Wróblewski, President of UODO.

The President noted that the introduction, in September 2025, of topics related to privacy and personal data protection into the national curriculum for Civic Education and Health Education represents a groundbreaking moment. “This is not only a formal change but also a symbolic one—it shows that data protection is a value that must be taught from the earliest years,” added the President of UODO. In his address, he also emphasized that the development of tools based on artificial intelligence requires not only regulation but also the shaping of ethical attitudes. “Data protection is not just about law and technology; it is also about respect for human dignity and responsibility for the way we use information,” stressed Mirosław Wróblewski.

Among the special guests at the conference were representatives of public institutions involved in the development of safe digital education. Monika Rosa, Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Committee on Children and Youth, highlighted the importance of teaching privacy and data security from the earliest years. She emphasized that schools play a key role in shaping digital responsibility and empathy in the world of new technologies. Katarzyna Hernandez, Director of the Digital Education and Online Safety Team at the Office of the Commissioner for Children’s Rights, represented the Commissioner. She noted that children’s privacy online is becoming one of the most important challenges in modern education and that the Commissioner’s Office has long supported the activities of UODO within the “Your Data – Your Concern” program as its honorary patron.

An important part of the conference program was the presentation by representatives of the Department of Educational Initiatives, which is responsible for organizing activities within the “Your Data – Your Concern” program. Anna Dudkowska, Director of the Department of Educational Initiatives at the Personal Data Protection Office, and Marta Mikołajczyk, the program coordinator, outlined the objectives, plans for the current edition, and possible directions for implementation. They emphasized that effective education on children’s data protection and privacy primarily requires the engagement of adults—their motivation, awareness, and responsibility. Without the active participation of teachers, parents, and guardians, it is impossible to build lasting habits of digital responsibility. Anna Dudkowska highlighted that: “The topic of personal data protection can be discussed in every school subject—from Polish language to mathematics or physical education—and also within preventive activities. In an era of rapid digital technology development, this is not only possible but necessary.” Marta Mikołajczyk, in turn, emphasized the importance of inspiration in educational activities, noting that data protection should not arise from fear or desperation due to privacy breaches but from an internal need to care for oneself and others.

Conference participants attended a series of presentations on new educational and technological challenges. Magdalena Bigaj from the Institute of Digital Citizenship discussed research findings on the impact of artificial intelligence on youth and students’ digital habits. She pointed out that technology is becoming not only a tool but also an environment for existence, which is why teachers should help students develop the ability to critically engage with content generated by artificial intelligence.

Paulina Dawidczyk, Director of the Complaints Department at the Personal Data Protection Office, presented best practices for data processing in schools, highlighting the protection of students’ online images, rules for publishing school materials, and the security of electronic systems. Following her presentation, Piotr Otrębski from the Ministry of National Education outlined the ministry’s activities in the field of personal data education, discussing the integration of these topics into school curricula. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between schools, government offices, and social organizations. Maciej Groń, legal advisor at NASK, addressed the issue of misuse related to content generated by students online and the responsibility of teachers and parents in digital education. Finally, Maria Owczarek, Director of the International Cooperation Department at UODO, discussed age verification of users on online platforms and the protection of children’s data in educational games and applications.

The discussions following the presentations showed that schools are increasingly addressing the topic of technological ethics and striving to integrate data protection with the development of media literacy skills.

Day 2 of the Conference – “Student Privacy in the Digital World: Best Practices in Education”

The second day of the conference was opened by Dr. hab. Agnieszka Grzelak, Professor at ALK, Deputy President of the Personal Data Protection Office, who emphasized the importance of balancing technological development with the right to privacy. “Artificial intelligence is a tremendous opportunity for education, but it is also a test of our responsibility. In raising the younger generation in a digital world, we must show that privacy is not an obstacle, but a value worth protecting,”
said the Deputy President of the Personal Data Protection Office. In her speech, she also noted that schools participating in the program are becoming informal ambassadors of data protection within their local communities.

The special guest on the second day, titled ‘Student Privacy in the Digital World: Good Practices in Education’, was Katarzyna Lubnauer, Deputy Minister at the Ministry of National Education. ‘There is no doubt that schools play a fundamental role in teaching and instilling good practices among young people — including how to handle their data responsibly and how to use artificial intelligence,’ the Deputy Minister emphasized. She added that ‘The event was an opportunity to highlight the school’s role in shaping students’ awareness of personal data protection and the right to privacy. It was also a space for exchanging experiences, inspiration, and practical guidance for working with children and young people”.

On the second day of the conference, the practical experiences of schools participating in the program were discussed. Joanna Bochniarz, President of the Polish Airports Foundation, delivered a presentation titled ‘The Student as a Co-creator of Education’. She emphasized the importance of a partnership-based approach to students in the teaching process, as well as the role of cooperation between educational institutions and public administration in developing young people’s digital skills.

Next, teachers presented educational projects combining data protection with the development of digital skills, including classes on recognizing AI-generated content, an online safety campaign, and lessons dedicated to the ethics of publishing on the internet. Among those who shared their experiences were Dr. Joanna Hałoń-Gnutek from Primary School No. 23 in Lublin, winner of the Michał Serzycki Award for educational activities; Dr. Adam Gogacz from the Educational Development Center; and representatives of schools awarded in competitions organized by the President: Aleksandra Czarnobaj from School Complex No. 1 in Kwidzyn, as well as Principal Izabela Ambrozik and Alicja Świątek from the Primary School in Świba. During the expert panel, Kamil Śliwowski, a digital skills educator, highlighted the need to teach students how to distinguish between content created by humans and by algorithms. He emphasized that the development of AI requires ethical reflection, and that schools should become a place where children learn to use new technologies wisely rather than avoid them. Participants also stressed that education on data protection should be a process involving the entire school community — students, teachers, and parents.Dół formularza

’Your Data — Your Concern’ Program

The ‘Your Data — Your Concern’ program, implemented by the Personal Data Protection Office since 2009, is one of the longest-running educational initiatives in Poland. Over the course of fifteen years, it has reached thousands of schools and produced tangible results in the form of increased data protection awareness among students and teachers. This year’s 16th edition focuses on the challenges related to the development of artificial intelligence, the responsible use of new technologies, and strengthening young people’s digital skills. ‘The program not only teaches legal regulations but also shapes attitudes. It teaches how to maintain privacy in a world that increasingly demands our data,’ emphasized Agnieszka Grzelak, Deputy President of the Personal Data Protection Office.

The ‘Privacy and Artificial Intelligence in Education’ conference demonstrated that building awareness of personal data protection requires cooperation between public administration, schools, parents, and the media. Participants emphasized that thanks to initiatives such as ‘Your Data — Your Concern,’ Poland is becoming an example of a country where privacy education is genuinely integrated into the education system. The conclusions drawn from the conference serve as a starting point for further work on developing teaching materials and training for teachers as part of the 16th edition of the program.

This year, the media patrons of the ‘Your Data — Your Concern’ program include: Rzeczpospolita, rp.pl, the Polish Press Agency (PAP), Prawo.pl, Głos Nauczycielski, ABI Expert, TiK w Edukacji, IT w Administracji, and Sekurak.pl.
All schools interested in participating in the Program are invited to join. Recruitment is open until October 31, 2025.

Registration: Informacje ogólne - UODO

Contact: tdts@uodo.gov.pl