Judge Hacker - Application Privacy Notice

Please read the Privacy Notice before applying be on the show.

Be on a show: Judge Hacker

Your trust is very important to us. This means the BBC is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal data. It is important that you read this notice so that you are aware of how and why we are using such personal data. This privacy notice describes how we collect and use personal data about you during and after your relationship with us, in accordance with data protection law.

Why are we doing this and how can you participate?

The BBC is working with DLT Entertainment UK to make Judge Hacker, a CBBC entertainment programme where everyday “crimes” are brought before Judge Hacker for a verdict.

We are collecting personal data so that children aged between six (6) and twelve (12), together with adults such as parents, family members or teachers, can apply to take part in the programme and be considered for inclusion.

To participate, a child and their parent or guardian must complete an online application form together. As part of the application process, applicants will be asked to provide information about themselves and the accusation they would like to bring before Judge Hacker, and to upload a recent photograph and a short video clip (around one minute).

Applications must be submitted by 10am on Friday 29 May 2026. If an application is shortlisted, a member of the production team will contact the parent or guardian using the details provided to discuss the application further.

If selected to take part, applicants must be available to attend a one hour studio recording in London during the week beginning Monday 8 June 2026. There may also be additional filming using a smartphone ahead of the studio recording to gather evidence and witness statements for the programme.

If a child or adult takes part in the programme, this may include their contribution being broadcast on television and made available online and/or on demand. The programme may be repeated in the future, and contributions may also be used for promotional purposes related to Judge Hacker.

What personal data will the BBC collect?

As part of the application process for Judge Hacker, the BBC (working with DLT Entertainment UK) will collect the following personal data:

  • Child’s details

  • Parent or guardian’s details

  • Application and casting information

  • Health or medical information (if provided)

All of the information collected at this stage is used to assess applications, contact applicants or parents/guardians, and decide who may be invited to take part in Judge Hacker.

Who is the Data Controller?

The BBC and DLT Entertainment UK are together joint data controllers of your personal data for the purposes of the Judge Hacker application and casting process. This means that the BBC and DLT Entertainment UK jointly decide what your personal data is used for, and the ways in which it is processed.

For the avoidance of doubt, your personal data will be collected and processed solely for the purposes set out in this privacy notice. As joint data controllers, the BBC and DLT Entertainment UK are each responsible for complying with, and demonstrating compliance with, data protection law.

If an applicant is selected to take part in the programme, DLT Entertainment UK will provide a separate Contributors Privacy Notice at that stage.

Lawful basis for processing your personal data

Under data protection law, we must have a lawful basis to use your personal data.

For the Judge Hacker application and casting process:

  • The BBC processes your personal data because it is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest.

  • This reflects the BBC’s public purposes, including the creation and broadcasting of children’s content.

  • DLT Entertainment UK processes applicants’ personal data on the basis of its legitimate interests in administering and assessing applications and selecting contributors for the project. 

Where limited health or medical information is provided, this will only be used where necessary to make appropriate adjustments for participation. This information is processed because it is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest and to safeguard the welfare of participants.

Your personal data will only be used for the purposes described in this privacy notice.

Sharing your personal data

The BBC may share your personal data with DLT Entertainment UK as a joint data controller for the purposes of managing applications and casting for Judge Hacker.

We also work with approved third-party service providers who help us deliver our services. These providers are only permitted to use your personal data on our instructions and are not allowed to use it for their own purposes.

We may also share personal data where required or permitted by law.

Retaining your personal data

We will only keep your personal data for as long as it is needed for the purposes set out in this privacy notice.

  • Personal data submitted as part of the Judge Hacker application process will be held on the BBC Uploader system until 1 September 2026, after which it will be deleted.

  • DLT Entertainment UK will retain application data it has collected for casting purposes in line with its own retention policies. Where an application is unsuccessful, this data will be deleted after two years.

  • If an applicant is selected to take part in the programme, DLT Entertainment UK will retain and process their personal data as a contributor in accordance with its Contributors Privacy Notice, which will be provided at that stage. 

Your personal data will be stored in the UK and the European Economic Area (EEA).

Your rights and more information

You have rights under data protection law:

  • You can requestacopy of the personal data the BBC stores about you.

  • You have the right to request that we rectify any inaccurate or incomplete personal data that we hold about you.

  • You have the right to ask for the personal data we collect about you to be deleted, however there are limitations and exceptions to this right which may entitle the BBC to refuse your request.

  • In certain circumstances you have the right to restrict the processing of your personal data, or to object to the processing of your personal data.

  • You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal data to you or to another organisation, in certain circumstances.

You can contact our, Data Protection Officer if you have questions or you wish to find out more details about your rights, please visit the BBC’s Privacy and Cookies Policy at http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy.

If you have a concern about the way the BBC has handled your personal data, you can raise your concern with the supervisory authority in the UK, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) https://ico.org.uk/.

Updating this privacy notice

We will revise the privacy notice if there are significant changes to how we use your personal data.