KidsAlert and the Bezpieczne Dziecko Foundation are urging Poland’s Ministry of National Education to regulate the online publication of children’s images.
Appeal to the Ministry of National Education
KidsAlert and the Bezpieczne Dziecko Foundation have appealed to the Ministry of National Education (MEN) regarding the urgent need to protect minors’ images online.
The organizations argue that once an image is published, it can be disseminated, copied, and misused, even in ways contrary to the original intent of those who shared it. Recent cases, such as the use of teenage photos in advertisements for the Threads platform targeting adult men, highlight these risks.
Loss of Control and Potential Misuse
Dominika Bucholc of the Bezpieczne Dziecko Foundation explains that posting children’s photos on social media results in a loss of control, allowing anyone to copy, alter with AI, and exploit the images.
The foundation has been inundated with reports from concerned parents and guardians, prompting the appeal for systemic regulations rather than individual interventions.
Controversial Publications and Institutional Motivations
Specific instances raising concerns include photos of boys dancing in ballet skirts, girls posed as adults, and teachers kissing children. Reports also surfaced of children posing with sanitary products.
While supporting educational initiatives, the foundation stresses that such content should not be shared on social media. Schools and kindergartens often prioritize social media promotion over children’s safety and privacy.
Responsible Promotion and Risks to Children
Institutions can promote themselves responsibly by photographing children from behind or showing only their hands, avoiding the publication of identifiable images or personal data.
The organizations warn that children’s data and images can be exploited by criminals, including the creation of deepfakes and the use of images in adult content. The ease with which images can be manipulated using AI, like Grok, poses a significant threat.
Pressure on Schools and Parents
The appeal specifically targets schools to encourage the Ministry of Education to address the practices of educational institutions. Parents sometimes face pressure to consent to image sharing, or their children may be excluded from activities if they refuse.
Teachers also report pressure from administrators to maintain active social media profiles due to internal competitions. Additionally, teachers face pressure from parents who want to document their children’s school life on social media.
Need for National Standards and Guidelines
The organizations emphasize the need for the Ministry of Education to establish clear norms and recommendations, if not an outright ban. The MEN’s initial response, citing existing laws, was deemed insufficient, as schools lack the legal expertise to interpret and apply these laws independently.
The Bezpieczne Dziecko Foundation is developing a guide for schools with concrete recommendations and plans to resubmit its appeal with these proposals.
