After personally reading and witnessing numerous incidents in which children's photographs were taken without their consent in Scotland, it deeply compelled me to take action. Situations where children are photographed without their or their parent's approval pose a risk to their safety, privacy and increase opportunities for child exploitation.

According to an analysis by the University of Cambridge in 2018, children under 13 are often the victims of digital privacy infringements because many laws do not sufficiently cover this aspect of privacy rights (University of Cambridge, 2018). Specifically, in Scotland, the current legislation does not categorically deem it illegal to photograph a child in public spaces without consent.

This severe gap in our legal system is concerning and requires urgent attention. By creating a law that renders non-consensual photography of children in public spaces as illegal, Scotland can offer the necessary protection to its young citizens.

Our children’s right to privacy should not be compromised merely because they are in a public space. Their safety and dignity must be prioritised over everything else. We demand that the Scottish government take immediate and substantial action to address this issue. Please sign this petition to support the call to make non-consensual photography of children in public spaces illegal in Scotland.