Personal Data Protection Department of the Ministry of Justice of RA is preparing a guideline on how to protect children’s personal data based on the international experience. In the talk with Aravot.am, Head of Personal Data Protection Department, Shushan Doydoyan noted that the issue of the children’s personal data dissemination is quite widespread.
“Moreover, the dissemination not only by children as minors who do not realize the harmfulness of their activities, the negative impact but also by the parents, which is very dangerous. As the child can not argue against it, they just publish on social networks not thinking that tomorrow, when their child grows up, he will just feel ashamed for that information. They should not forget that nothing is forgotten on the internet even if the child removes it from some websites, it does not matter, they will always stay on the internet.”
Shushan Doydoyan stressed also the role of educational institutions that through video-control system, and by publishing photos intervene in children’s personal life.
“We highlight the personal life of the children so much because the child cannot protect himself and for that the child needs a special protection. Nobody asks the opinion of the child when they install a video-control system at classroom or school, and the child does not even understand what influence it can have in general, what kind of intervention it is. On the other hand, the mass media as acting side have very important role because the mass media by reporting on events, often willingly or unwillingly publish personal information regarding the infants and minors and make them the public property. And tomorrow the child will continue going to school, going out, depending on how badly the child is presented, that much his further life and normal development will be endangered, etc.”
Touching upon the video of a minor recently widespread on the internet, Shushan Doydoyan said that the protection of children’s personal data on the internet is a problem in the whole world. She emphasized that children are not acquainted with the privacy settings on the internet;
“Here also we should work with children because if the child goes onto social networks and becomes a user, then he should know how to ensure privacy settings in order to ensure the minimum intervention in his personal life. It is the task of the school, and if schools encourage the usage of new technologies, then the first lesson should not be on how to use computer but how the child can use digital system safely. But we cannot expect that child will be able to protect his safety, first of all it is the responsibility of parents, teachers and state bodies. All our acting figures must aim at protecting child’s interest.”
Ami CHICHAKYAN
