Young children cannot consent to their image being shared. Yet parents sometimes share images of their children, building their digital footprint. This could make them vulnerable to abuse.

We also do not think adults should be allowed to share a child’s image or monetise it for content before the child is able to consent to sharing. “Sharenting” can lead to a misuse of images in malicious ways such as deep fake child sexual abuse material. There is also potential for identity theft and fraud. Research estimates that by 2030, parents sharing images of their children online will account for two-thirds of identity fraud. Sharing your child’s location or school also makes them vulnerable to unwanted contact.