Experts explain risks of bundled consent for publishing schoolchildren’s photos
Australian digital safety experts have drawn attention to the risks of bundled consent forms, under which parents can only simultaneously allow or prohibit a school from using a child’s photographs in different materials. This was reported by ABC News Australia.
Different platforms, different conditions
Carley Beckman, a senior lecturer in digital technologies at the University of Wollongong, noted that schools need consent to publish information about students, including photographs, in newsletters, on websites, in reports, educational platforms and social media.
At the same time, forms with a single “yes” or “no” answer may not allow parents to permit internal use, for example in a school newsletter, while refusing publication on Facebook. According to Beckman, the methods of sharing and the consequences for a child’s privacy and digital footprint differ across such platforms.
Joanne Orlando, a digital wellbeing researcher at Western Sydney University, said that parents are increasingly paying attention to children’s digital safety. Among the reasons, she cited the possibility of generative artificial intelligence being used to manipulate images and create child sexual exploitation material. Earlier this year, a Brisbane school said it would no longer publish recognizable photographs of students on its official social media accounts.
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Risk of exclusion
Refusing the use of photographs can also have social consequences for children. Laurie Parr, a human rights researcher and artist working with participatory visual practices at Curtin University, noted that photographs are not only personal data but also part of memories and a sense of belonging to a community.
According to Beckman, at some schools, children whose guardians have not given consent for publication may be asked to step aside during group photography. This also creates an additional burden for teachers. In her view, reducing the number of photographs taken for online sharing could partly reduce this burden.
Experts advise parents to clarify the purpose of publications, the scope of information the school shares and the methods used to protect privacy. Beckman also reminded that parents can change their consent and involve children in discussions about how they feel about being photographed and having their images appear on social media.
