Children and young people
The short version
Many members are children. A child’s details are given by a parent or guardian, and a parent or guardian stays in charge of the child’s record and of what the child may see.
How a child is added
- A parent or guardian registers their child, or the club does so with the parent’s knowledge. A child does not sign themselves up.
- A child has no account of their own unless the organisation sets one up with the parent’s agreement.
- Messages for a child go to their parents or guardians.
- A parent or guardian sees their child’s record, can correct it, and can ask for it to be erased.
The ages that matter
- New Zealand: the Privacy Act has no fixed age of consent. The organisation looks at whether a young person understands what they are agreeing to, asks for a parent’s or guardian’s agreement for younger children, and listens to a young person’s own wishes as they grow.
- United States: a child under 13 is protected by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Information about a child under 13 is collected only through a parent or guardian, and a parent may review it, have it deleted, and refuse further collection.
- Europe and the United Kingdom: the age at which a young person can consent for themselves is between 13 and 16 depending on the country. Under that age a parent or guardian gives consent.
Photos and video
A club is responsible for having a parent’s or guardian’s consent before a picture of a child goes on a public page. Pictures and video uploaded to an event wait for the club’s approval before anyone else sees them. Consent can be withdrawn and the picture taken down.
Keeping children safe
Clubs can ask instructors to keep first aid, child protection and police vetting current. These checks are recorded so that a club can show it has done what it should. If you have a concern about a child’s safety, speak to the club’s head instructor or, in an emergency, call the police.