Libraries and Children’s Right to Privacy: IFLA Submits Comments to OHCHR Call for Inputs
01 October 2020
Libraries have a traditional and longstanding commitment to defending the privacy of their users. As institutions that come into contact with children and teens’ data in the course of their everyday work, libraries have developed good practices on how to keep this data private and confidential – and to help their young audiences develop the skills to stay safe and maintain their privacy online.
Drawing on the library sector’s experiences, IFLA has prepared a response to the call for inputs launched by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, focusing on the privacy rights of children and issues relating to their independence and autonomy.
The IFLA submission focuses on questions around children’s privacy, identity, skills and rights (both online and offline) in social, educational and recreational spheres; as well as relevant initiatives and good practices in the library field. The paper discusses:
- Children’s privacy from the standpoint of Intellectual Freedom
- The link between children’s privacy and media and information literacy (MIL) skills
- Library experiences with privacy skills-building initiatives for children and young adults
- Good practices and guidelines on protecting the privacy of children in the library and when handling user data.
You can read the submission on the publications page.