Nepal schools post children's photos online without consent

A growing number of parents in Kathmandu are raising alarms over schools routinely publishing students' photos and videos online without obtaining explicit consent. This practice, which has become normalized over years, is now seen as increasingly dangerous due to the proliferation of AI technologies that can manipulate and misuse digital content.

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In the video, one can see my child is aggressive and does not want to be in the picture.

Uma Prasai recounted a distressing experience where a video of her autistic son, filmed at school and shared in a class group chat, was later posted on TikTok with added music. The video, showing her son distressed and trying to avoid the camera, attracted comments about his behavior rather than his discomfort. Prasai had never given permission for her son to be filmed or for his image to be shared publicly.

"Autistic or not, the children’s pictures should not be shared without the individual’s consent, or that of their parents," Prasai stated, feeling like she is in the minority for objecting. She advocates for schools to implement simple consent forms, similar to how they send payment notices.

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Autistic or not, the children’s pictures should not be shared without the individual’s consent, or that of their parents.

Many parents describe a similar pattern of schools documenting nearly every school activity, from swimming to sports days, and circulating the material through group chats, social media, and prospectuses without seeking permission. Shilpa Dhakal, a parent of two, noted a gradual build-up of discomfort over such practices. The ease with which images can be shared and potentially misused online has heightened concerns about digital privacy and the vulnerability of children, especially those with special needs.

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Photos of student activities had become routine, what she calls a 'new normal' in Nepali schools, and her son’s classroom already had CCTV cameras so that she could review his day if needed.