Education Ombudsman Nadiya Leshchyk urged educational institutions to be careful about publishing photos and videos of children. According to her, this practice, although widespread among educational institutions, can not only violate children’s rights but also pose potential threats to their safety.
As the ombudsman explains, photos and videos from events, competitions, or excursions often appear on the official pages of schools and kindergartens as part of reporting to local governments, and not always as a tool for communicating with parents. At the same time, such materials, once published online, can fall into the hands of unauthorized persons, which opens the way to risks associated with cyberbullying, blackmail, fraud, or even harassment.
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Leshchyk draws special attention to the growing dangers under martial law, when any disclosure of information about a child’s whereabouts can be a threat. Photos with identifying information, dates and names of places of events allow unauthorized persons to identify the child or his or her family, which creates additional risks.
The Ombudsman called on education authorities not to require teachers to post photo and video reports with children, emphasizing that this practice not only poses security threats but also creates an unnecessary burden on educators. She also emphasized the need to adhere to clear rules and obtain parental consent for any photography or publication of materials that may concern minors.
The appeal of the educational ombudsman raises the important topic of the balance between the openness of the school environment and the safety of children in the digital age and the ongoing war, which requires special responsibility from all participants in the educational process.
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