My child's preschool put pictures of him on their website without my permission. It may seem harmless, but surely that is up to me to decide? The school does not seem to understand my objection, and their attitude is: 'None of the other parents seem to mind...' Am I wrong to insist they remove every picture of a child they have used without the parent's permission? I've looked around and it seems all the preschools and schools do it - and even some sports clubs.

You are not wrong. I will not tolerate it. I will not have my daughter's picture put on the internet anywhere either.

I think one also has to consider practical implications. It would be impossible for most schools to get permission from parents for every photo involving a pupil on school websites. Just think of all the sports and academic activities, and that there is also a definite need for many parents to see photos of their children in various school activities. I am a webmaster for a school website and we have not yet had a single objection or concern expressed over the years. In fact, in most cases parents cannot wait to see pictures of their children after school events. I do agree, however, that photos of a child should be removed if a particular parent requests it. I had, until recently, two children in school and it has certainly never concerned us to have their photos on the particular school's website.

There is nothing wrong here...a pic with your child is on the net, so what?!!. What...if you go to a Rugby game and they pan the camera on your child, are you going to dive in front of the camera and sue Supper Sport and complain? Stop being ridiculous PLEASE!!

Totally agree. Should have some form of consent. But also know that you can take pics of anyone, anywhere if there is no expectancy of privacy. Like in the street or shopping mall etc.

Schools, don’t know so well.....

Just because "None of the other parents have a problem" doesn't mean that there is no problem. You are well within your rights to object. They may take pictures of your child, as anyone may, according to law (as far as I know), but they may not publicly display those pictures without permission.

I think you have the right to object to photos being taken because they can end up in the wrong hands. There is so many people that do not know the dangers of the internet. Peadophiles are preying on these school sites and get photos of children and then post them on other sick sites.

I live in the UK here we have the police comming to schools to give parents and teachers training on how to be safe on the internet and how to protect your child from the internet. And one of the main problems is photos of children being used. Anybody have access to any website.

Here in the UK every year when your child goes to the next class the school must and that is government law give papers out where people can either say yes it is ok or no I do not want my child's photo being taken. And on days when photos are being taken teachers have to make sure that those children whose parents have concern over pictures being taken should be kept out of photos.

It is every parents right. And there is nothing wrong with protecting your child.

I think people in South Africa are still very naive when in comes to the internet. I just see how many of them post pictures of their children on facebook. Without realising that their every detail is on that Facebook website. The other day here in the UK they have caught a peodophile ring who were using the Facebook as their platform.

Unfortunately the world has turned into one nasty place and if you do not act clever and in the interest of your child chances are you put your child in danger or yourself. So to think that with all you're details there on the internet nothing and nobody can get hold of it is pretty naive.

So yes you have every right to object it is your child and you just want your child to be safe and nothing is wrong with that.

If the school takes a picture of your child playing a game of rugby or hockey and posts it on their website, then so what?
There cannot be anything seductive about it that would make a peodaphile drool and go jerk off to a picture of someone receiving an academic trophy in school uniform! Your kids probably go to the malls on a Friday night dressed in their skanky outfits where any person can take a photo of them without them even knowing.

This is really an easy one. The school has not right to publish any pictures of your child without your consent. They have to remove it immediately if you ask them to. All these opinions about practicality are mute. Those considerations are not your concern.

Yes you are entitled to be upset. You are entitled to have them removed.

I speak as a father who had innocent pictures of his children lifted from a regular blog and utilized on a site geared towards paedophiles. The pictures where used to illustrate the characters in a story of sex between children and adults. Thankfully the site was eventually shut down.

I am very irked by anyone posting pictures of my kids anywhere on the net.