FantomApp helps young people protect their privacy online

FantomApp is an educational app that helps young users use the internet more safely, protect their personal data and respond in situations where their privacy is at risk. In an accessible and practical way, the tool presents rights arising from the GDPR as concrete actions that users can take, such as requesting the removal of content or objecting to specific ways in which their data are used.

The tool was developed primarily with teenagers in mind, but it can also be used by people from other age groups. The app is already available in Polish.

FantomApp was developed at the initiative of the CNIL – the French data protection authority – in cooperation with secondary school students. The students’ experiences and needs influenced both the app’s functionality and the way its content is presented.

The starting point for developing the tool was a survey conducted among secondary school students and their parents. Its findings, presented in the report Teenagers' digital lives and privacy: publication of survey results and launch of a European project in 2025, highlighted, among other things, young people’s insufficient knowledge of personal data protection and the need for an interactive tool to help them protect their privacy.

During workshops organised by the CNIL, young people said they particularly needed simple tools to protect their privacy on social media, a better understanding of visibility settings, and easy access to information on where to seek help when problems arise.

Based on this feedback, FantomApp was equipped with three main groups of features:

• Information and verified contacts to help users deal with problematic situations online, including cyberbullying, data or account theft, attempted scams and sexual blackmail, as well as information to help students exercise their rights.
• Simple and effective online safety tools, including photo blurring, password strength checking and analysis of the visibility level of usernames.
• Step-by-step tutorials showing users how to secure their accounts and configure their privacy settings correctly.

The app was designed according to a “mobile-first” approach, so it is primarily optimised for use on smartphones. However, there is no need to download it from an app store, as it also works in all web browsers and is available at fantomapp.fr.

FantomApp was funded by the European Union under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV).

Nine European data protection authorities expressed an interest in the project and supported it. In addition to France and Poland, the project brings together partners from Hungary, Luxembourg, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, Spain, including Catalonia, and Ireland.

The app’s content is being translated and adapted to the languages of the partner countries so that the tool can support as many young Europeans as possible in using the internet consciously and safely.

The app was also developed with the support of the Council of Europe and AFCDP – the French association bringing together data protection officers and privacy professionals.

The online version of the app is already available at: https://fantomapp.fr/home

The app does not collect any data other than the IP address required for it to function.