Safeguarding vs. Data Protection. Do They Clash or Work Together?
Safeguarding can be defined as:
providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge
protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online
preventing the impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes
At first glance, safeguarding and data protection might seem like they’re pulling in different directions.
On one hand, schools are expected to share information when a child may be at risk. On the other, strict data protection laws tell us to keep information secure and private.
So how do you balance the two?
In reality, safeguarding and data protection work hand in hand — especially when you understand how they support each other. Whether you're in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the UK or the EU, the principles are surprisingly similar.
Here’s what your school needs to know.
What Is Data Protection?
Data protection is all about making sure that personal information — like names, medical info, behaviour reports, and family contact details — is:
Collected fairly
Stored securely
Only shared with the right people
If your school is in the UK or EU, you’re governed by GDPR. In ASEAN countries, similar laws apply — such as Malaysia’s PDPA, Singapore’s PDPA, or Thailand’s PDPA.
No matter where your school is based, the message is the same: keep personal data safe and used responsibly.
What Is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding is about protecting children from:
Harm
Abuse
Neglect
Exploitation
It also includes promoting the welfare of pupils and creating a safe school environment. Every school has a legal duty to take action when a child is at risk — and that often involves collecting and sharing sensitive information.
Do Safeguarding and Data Protection Ever Conflict?
It might feel that way — especially when you're deciding whether to share a report with a parent, an agency, or a fellow teacher.
But here’s the truth: they don’t conflict. They complement each other.
When safeguarding concerns arise, data protection laws allow you to share information — if it’s done lawfully, securely, and with a clear purpose.
Your job isn’t to choose one over the other. It’s to make smart, confident decisions that protect both the child and their privacy.
Three Key Crossovers Schools Need to Understand
1. Sharing Information
If you need to share a safeguarding record with social services or the police, you can — even without consent — if it's in the best interests of the child.
Tip: Always document your decision and only share what's necessary.
2. Storing Sensitive Records
Safeguarding logs, incident reports, and risk assessments often include highly sensitive information.
Tip: Store these securely, limit access to only trained staff, and don’t keep them longer than necessary. In the UK, for example, many records are kept until the child turns 25.
3. Responding to Subject Access Requests (SARs)
Parents or students may request access to personal data under data protection laws. But if that data includes sensitive safeguarding information or mentions other individuals, you may need to redact or withhold parts of it.
Tip: Work with your DPO or legal team to handle these carefully — every country has exemptions that apply in safeguarding cases.
What About Schools in ASEAN?
Whether you’re in Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, or Indonesia, here’s what you need to know:
Your country’s data protection laws recognise the importance of sharing personal data in cases of child protection or safety.
Schools still need to document who they shared data with, why, and under what legal reason.
Local regulations differ slightly — so it’s important to stay informed and seek support from regional data protection experts or authorities.
Final Thoughts for School Leaders
Safeguarding and data protection aren’t a tug-of-war. They’re part of the same mission: keeping children safe while respecting their rights.
When your staff understand both, your school is:
Legally compliant
Ethically sound
And more trusted by families
Need help aligning your safeguarding policy with your data protection duties?
EPS Ltd offers staff training, redaction templates, and region-specific policy support for schools in both the ASEAN region and the UK/EU.
Let’s make sure your school is safe, secure, and confident with data — wherever you are.
