Turkish data protection authority warns parents against sharing children’s photos on social media
The head of Turkey' s Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK), Professor Dr.
Faruk Bilir, has issued a warning to parents regarding the sharing of photographs and videos of their children on social media platforms.
Bilir emphasises that such sharing can pose significant risks to children' s personal data and their long-term digital footprints.
In an interview with Star Gazetesi, Professor Bilir highlighted concerns that children' s personal data can reach a wide audience and leave a permanent digital trail on the internet.
He pointed out that while parents may view the sharing of content from daily life as innocent, it is often impossible to control who gains access to the material and how it might be used in the future. Bilir specifically warned against the risks that arise when posts include information about a child' s place of residence, school, daily routines, or private life.
Such details can create additional vulnerabilities related to privacy and security, potentially exposing children to unwanted situations or the misuse of their identity.
The KVKK' s warning comes in response to an increasing trend where parents actively document and share their children' s lives publicly on digital platforms.
The authority stresses the importance of parents being aware of the consequences of such actions and taking responsibility for protecting their children' s personal data in an increasingly digitised world.
This statement from a national data protection authority reflects a broader international debate regarding children' s right to privacy on the internet and the role of parents in safeguarding it.
It also underscores the challenges of managing ' digital footprints' that are established at an early age and which can have long-lasting effects.
Source: Star
