MICHAEL ABONEKA: Parents and Schools are violating children’s right to privacy

The release of the national exam results has often been welcomed by celebrations and many schools and parents, most out of excitement and perhaps ignorance, are quick to have their children’s information published in the various media without thinking of the repercussions on the children’s privacy. Whereas it may look fine to share the good news to the world concerning your child’s performance, what you may not know is that you are exposing them to potential harm. There are processes to ensure the robust safeguard of both personal data/information and general information concerning the publication of these results and the celebrations thereto.

Article 27 of the Constitution of Uganda and the Data Protection and Privacy Act provide protection of privacy and personal data in all aspects. It provides avenues where data and personal information including pictures, names, grades and the school of the child can be shared. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of a Child and the Children Act emphasize the maximum protection of the child and further enjoin the participation of the children in decision-making. The guiding principle is always the best interest of the child. The school and parent must involve their children in the decision on whether or not their information can be published. This consent must be express especially to children above 12 years as they understand the issues at hand.

The media must ensure that there is evidence of express consent from the parents and the children too, especially Senior Four Candidates before the publication of their personal information. If the contrary is absent, it means that both the schools and parents have breached the children’s right to privacy and decision-making.

The majority of parents are guilty of breaching the right to privacy of their children by sharing their photos on WhatsApp status, Instagram and other platforms in the name of celebrations or whatever other reasons. One must always ask, is this in the best interest of my child to post them on the internet? The effect of wantonly publishing your child and their personal information is that you put their security in jeopardy, you are giving kidnappers and all sorts of cyber and non-cyber criminals free information and clues that can hurt your child. Before we compete for likes, let us think about the safety of our children first!