France Prohibits Unauthorized SNS Disclosure
Bill Proposed by National Assembly Member
"Issue Related to Child Dignity" Highlighted
The French government plans to ban the posting of excessive or inappropriate photos of children on social media.
This is aimed at respecting children's dignity and protecting their privacy in relation to so-called 'shareunting' (a portmanteau of 'share' and 'parents'), which refers to the act of parents publicly sharing photos of their children on social media. Shareunting means parents uploading their children's daily lives on social media, video services, or online forums.
Recently in France, some influencers have been prosecuted by prosecutors for indiscriminately uploading photos of their children.
According to The Times on the 6th (local time), Bruno Studer, a member of the French National Assembly, submitted a bill granting family court judges the authority to intervene if parents infringe on their children's privacy through excessive or inappropriate posts.
Previously in France, it was legally interpreted that parents who post photos of their children on social media without their consent could face a fine of ?35,000 or imprisonment of up to one year for violating privacy.
In March 2021, the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of the Child defined children's right to privacy as a right that must be guaranteed in the digital environment and recommended follow-up measures to each country.
Assemblyman Studer explained, "There is a need to crack down on parents who constantly share their children's private lives on social media from morning till night, sharing every photo of them sleeping, being sick, bathing, or eating."
He added, "It is also necessary to curb the trend of parents playing pranks on their children and uploading photos or videos of these episodes on social media. Examples include the Egg Crack Challenge, where eggs are cracked on children's heads, or throwing cheese."
He emphasized, "Such actions are a serious attack on children's dignity. Parents need to understand that their children's images are not their own but something they must protect."
Assemblyman Studer warned that inappropriate photos of children could also become targets for pedophiles.
It has been pointed out that posting children's photos or videos and other personal information on social networking services (SNS) can remain online for a long time and that excessive disclosure of personal information may expose children to crime.
If the bill proposed by Assemblyman Studer passes, French courts will be able to warn parents about indiscriminate behavior and may revoke their right to share photos of their children on social media. Parents who violate such court orders could also be prosecuted for invading their children's privacy.
Meanwhile, in South Korea, the Personal Information Protection Commission established the 'Guidelines for the Protection of Personal Information of Children and Adolescents' last July and has been conducting various support projects.
The guidelines warn that "posting personal information of infants and young children can infringe on children's right to self-determination of personal information and privacy and may threaten their safety."
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