The CNIL publishes a "manga" in English to raise awareness about data protection and online privacy
12 September 2025
How to talk about personal data with teenagers? With The Privacy Agency, inspired by “manga” codes, the CNIL addresses digital risks threatening the youth: hacking, cyberbullying, identity theft... An immersive and educational format and to open the dialogue around online privacy.
An original and accessible format, adopted by the 11-15 years old.
Digital technology is omnipresent in young people's lives (social media, apps, video games, etc.) and comic books play an important role in developing reading habits among teenagers (source: 2023 Junior City and the French Publishers Association study). It's therefore natural for the CNIL to choose this engaging format to raise awareness among 11-15 year-olds about the issues and risks related to their digital use.
Combining intrigue, humor and education, this first volume entitled The Shadow Network follows the adventures of two investigators from The Privacy Agency, Inaya and Isidore. They try to understand why the names of three high school students—victims of online mishaps and marginalized by their class—appear on a list found in a deliberately burnt down building...
To produce this book, the CNIL drew on the combined talents of Faouzi Boughida, video game scriptwriter, and Grelin, illustrator and comic book author.
It addresses concrete topics: hacking and identity theft, cyberbullying, e-reputation, and cybersecurity. All through a suspenseful story, dynamic artwork and engaging characters.
Discover Volume 1 – The shadow network
An educational tool for digital literacy stakeholders
The 3 volumes of The Privacy Agency complement the numerous resources produced by CNIL as part of its awareness-raising mission and constitute one of the actions carried out under the "Protecting minors and their data in the digital universe" axis of its 2025-2028 strategic plan.
Available free online on the CNIL's website, the French print version of the first volume of The Privacy Agency will be distributed to all middle schools in France, as well as to the CNIL's network of institutional partners and some partner municipal libraries.
As a mediation tool, the "manga" will also be distributed during awareness campaigns conducted in schools and at events in which the CNIL participates.
