All of these examples show why I have made children’s privacy one of my three top strategic priorities. They are vulnerable because sometimes people put their data online without their knowledge or consent. We need to do several things. First, we need to interpret the law in a way that takes their best interest into account. This occurs in family law and across all legal fields in general, but its application when it comes to privacy is still falling short.
For example, it would be a matter of saying that a child’s consent must be informed and age appropriate. In certain cases, parents will give their consent, while in other cases children will give their personal consent. Communication must be tailored to the age of the child. I recently set up a youth advisory council within the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. I will meet with young people aged 13 to 18. I will ask them how they feel, what they want in terms of privacy, and how they use social media.
In short, we need to do more.