Privacy expert: parents themselves leak children's data online every September 1

Kristaps Āls, a privacy expert at the Latvian think tank "Cehs.lv", has highlighted a paradox in how Latvian society treats personal data protection. The country has recently been shaken by several major data breach scandals, including ones involving state forestry company "Latvijas valsts meži" (LVM) and the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD), sparking widespread public anger over inadequate data protection.

However, according to the expert, September 1 — the start of the new school year — has effectively become an annual "self-inflicted" data leak. Many parents post photos of their children's first day of school on Instagram, often containing highly detailed identifying information.

What information gets exposed

Āls points out that such posts typically show the child's face, the school building, the class name written on a blackboard, as well as the family's house number and a car with a fully legible license plate. In some cases, comments reveal additional details, such as the exact time the child will be picked up from school.

The expert notes that this combination of information — a child's image, school, class, home address and vehicle — forms an almost complete family profile, usually published without any privacy restrictions.

A contradiction in public reaction

Āls points to the contradiction: at the same time the public expresses outrage over data leaks caused by companies and state institutions, people voluntarily share detailed information about their own children and families. He urges the public to recognize that information they post themselves on social media can also create privacy risks, particularly when it includes identifying details about children.