Alex's Answer

Hi there,

Welcome to Ask Alex, thank you so much for reaching out.

You are asking what happens if someone revealed your location online. This is a very important question, and it is positive to hear that you are thinking about how to be safe online. Protecting who knows your location is one way of staying safe online. With relation to your question, we think you should know about some of the laws in Ireland around online safety and sharing your information online.

Your location may also be described as some of your personal data. Protecting your data online is an important consideration of how you use the Internet.

The most familiar form of data protection to many of us is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which is an EU law. This law provided a new set of rules that gave people more control over how their personal data is collected and how it will be used.

One of the most important things that GDPR did was enhance the protection of children and young people’s personal data online.  

Under GDPR, a person (including a child or young person) has: the right to be informed about who holds your personal data and why it is being processed; the right to access and be given a copy of your personal data; the right to rectify inaccurate or incomplete personal data; the right to have your data erased.

GDPR also required EU member states to establish an Age of Digital Consent. In Ireland, the Digital Age of Consent is sixteen. 

We have some articles that you may find helpful on our website such as: www.childline.ie/6-simple-ways-to-improve-your-security-online/ ; www.childline.ie/being-safe-online/ ; www.childline.ie/how-to-build-digital-resilience/.

If you wish to discuss this further you can always contact Childline on 1800 66 66 66, or start a chat by clicking on the Orange tab on the right hand side of your screen on www.childline.ie.

We hope this has helped answer your question.

Take care of yourself,

Alex