Campaign calls for children’s ‘right to be forgotten’

Children from the UK could soon be able to delete any embarrassing online content that could affect future employment or relationships, following the launch of a new campaign.

The campaign called ‘iRights,’ seeking to protect children’s presence online, is backed by major industry players, including some government officials.

The UK Minister for Internet Safety and Security, Baroness Shields, is among the avid supporters of the campaign.

It is also backed by numerous private companies and charities, including Barclays Bank and the NSPCC.

The iRights campaign calls for the government to allow children and young adults to easily edit or completely delete any embarrassing photos or content they have posted online before they have reached the age of 18.

Many teenagers are being fired from their jobs or are having a difficult time finding employment because of one mistake that unfortunately has been published on the Internet for everyone to see.

Apart from this, the movement pushes for online literacy and transparency to educate children how their actions on the internet and the information they publish might be used by companies or individuals.

The iRights framework is intended to inspire businesses to work with the government on better protecting and empowering young people in terms of their online activity.

As well as supporting children’s “right to be forgotten”, iRights says young people have a right to digital literacy and should be well informed about how their data might be used.

Baroness Shields said, “iRights gives a unique insight into how government can join with technology companies, civil society and business to make a better digital world for young people. We are using iRights in education, business and in our own services and digital communications.”