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Serious Privacy: The Data Game Launches Kickstarter October 6th!

Co-host of the PICCASO award-winning Serious Privacy Podcast, Ralph O’Brien, launches the “Serious Privacy: The Data Game” boardgame via Kickstarter October 6th-30th, 2026. For data professionals to gamers – and everyone in between!

Ralph has been a dedicated member of the IOPD since 2023 volunteering on the Standards Committee, Article 42 Ad-Hoc Committee, and currently as a member of the Board of Directors. Let’s support our community members’ work!

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What happens when technology promises to make the world better – but the same technology could also cause serious harm?

Rather than treating privacy and data protection as a dry compliance exercise, The Data Game puts players in the middle of the decisions that organisations, governments and communities face every day. Technology can improve healthcare, education, infrastructure, research and business. But every new system, automation and data-driven decision can also create risks for real people. In The Data Game, players have to navigate those competing pressures together.

Technology isn’t good or bad. What we do with it matters.

Players take on different characters and encounter dilemmas, events and difficult choices inspired by the real-world consequences of technology and data use. The challenge is not simply to “win” but to work together to find ways to gain the benefits of technology while avoiding – or dealing with – the harms that can emerge along the way.

Every player has a unique special power, and each must do a harm and a benefit action, reflecting a central idea behind the game: the same technology that can create enormous benefits can also create significant risks. A solution that looks brilliant from one perspective may look very different to the person affected by it.

Designed to bring people together around conversations that are increasingly difficult to have in the real world.

The Data Game can be played by anyone, privacy and data protection professionals, technology teams, educators, students, business leaders and gamers – but players don’t need to be a data expert to take part. The game is intended to encourage discussion, challenge assumptions and make players think about the human consequences of data and technology decisions.

As the game develops, planned expansions can introduce new characters, sectors and scenarios, including an AI-focused sector, additional scenario discussion mechanics, or for those who like a little paranoia with their strategy, there may even be the possibility that someone around the table is secretly putting profit before people…

Ralph T O’Brien, founder of Serious Privacy, said:

“We talk about data protection, privacy and responsible technology as if they are simply technical or legal problems. They aren’t. Ultimately, they are about people. We wanted to create something that gets people talking. Something where you have to make decisions, live with the consequences and perhaps discover that the person sitting opposite you sees the problem completely differently. And, importantly, we wanted it to be fun. If people finish the game having laughed, argued, disagreed and thought differently about technology and its impact on people, then we’ve achieved what we set out to do.”

Emma Martins, former Information Commissioner of both Jersey AND Guernsey, said:

“Looking after data properly is about so much more than a tick-box exercise, it requires us to think carefully, ask questions and understand the real-world impact of the choices we make. We all learn in different ways and having a variety of avenues through which to engage with important subjects is invaluable. This game is a wonderfully novel way to bring data and its protection to life, making what can sometimes feel like a complex or dry subject accessible, thought-provoking, and genuinely engaging. Learning doesn’t have to be confined to policies and training courses.

Play is not separate from learning, it’s how we learn. That is as true for adults as it is for children. Let’s all play more and learn more!”

A serious subject, A fun game. Serious Privacy has built its reputation around making privacy, data protection and emerging technology accessible, practical and -occasionally – provocative. The game extends that approach into a physical, social experience. It is designed to explore a simple but increasingly important question…

Can we use data and technology for human benefit without creating unacceptable human harms?

The Kickstarter campaign will help bring the game from development into production and allow the Serious Privacy community, gamers, privacy professionals and supporters of responsible technology to become part of its creation.

The Data Game Kickstarter launches on 6 October 2026. Supporters can register their interest ahead of launch and follow the campaign through Serious Privacy!

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About Serious Privacy Ltd

Serious Privacy Ltd is focused on helping organisations use data effectively while protecting the people behind that data. It is run by Ralph O’Brien, co-host of the PICCASO award-winning Serious Privacy Podcast, which brings together privacy and technology leaders to discuss the issues, developments and debates shaping the world of data.

Its mission is simple: Use Data. Balance Innovation. Prevent Harms. Serious Privacy works across data protection, privacy, information governance, cybersecurity, emerging technology and AI, combining practical experience with a strong belief that data protection is ultimately about protecting people.

For more information, visit: https://seriousprivacy.co.uk

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