...asks the BBC, in a rather tabloid article. Not sure what Kurt, Mark, and Nils think, but here are my views:
1)Do Babyblogs violate children's privacy?
I suppose so, in a way, but only in the same way that taking photos or video footage does. The only difference is the medium of distribution. Putting pictures on a webpage for the whole world to see is definitely less private than showing a photo album to friends or relatives. No argument. But violation? Please, give me a break.
2)But if, in the future, a prospective partner, friend or employer should type the child's name into Google, will they appreciate having so much of their childhood documented for all to read? (BBC)
Will Google exist in 20 years? Will new laws have been passed which forbid the hoarding of huge banks of data, such as long-since defunct web pages? Will all recruiters require this kind of detailed childhood info? Who knows? Not me, and certainly not the folks at the BBC online.
3)"If people don't give out the address of their website to anyone except friends and family, they shouldn't have any problems." John Carr, NCH's internet advisor, quoted on BBC.
Utter nonsense. This guy clearly does not know just how powerful Google and other trawlers are.
4)Perverts might use these pictures.
Yes, they might. They might use pictures of babies/young children from catalogs and magazines. They might watch documentaries about child development and use them for their enjoyment. Might, might, might, might...
I personally see no point in going through life worrying about what all the weirdos in the world might be up to, and I don't think Rosie should either.
Goo in Japan has a whole site dedicated to babies, including a diary section.
Posted by Gary at April 20, 2004 11:14 AMTrawlers?? Errr... ;-)
As always, the blog will say more about the parents than about the child, and you don't need to be a pervert to enjoy a Daily Dash GBB.
Actually I wasn't aware that the coin BabyBlog had already been termed... err, the other way round. I should be working really...
Posted by: Dirk at April 20, 2004 04:48 PMHere is a trawler, for the uninitiated...
http://powerboat.about.com/cs/boattype1/p/trawler_boat.htm
"Well, Mr. Ferry -- or should I say 'Mr. Poopypants' -- why do you think we should hire you to work in our firm?"
Some guy emailed me just after Gregory was born with vaguely sinister warnings that I shouldn't put our pictures on the site because SOMEONE might see it and find out who we are and DO SOMETHING.
I see... al Qaeda maybe has a spy sattellite that can match my face to the Secret World Government database and cross-match my dental records with...
Or you could just call City Hall, and they'll probably tell you my address and phone number and my wife's Juki-Net number and all my bank balances and fax you my tax returns for the past six years.
I read Locke and I realize that my son is an independent person with human rights and privacy, but until he is old enough to assert these rights and knock down his old man, I have the right to exploit his image kokoro yuku made, to my heart's content. Coming soon: Gregory T-shirts, mouse pads, cocktail swizzle sticks and coasters.
Posted by: nils at April 21, 2004 08:36 PMI'm sure Rosie will be so happy when she grows up and reads my wife writing about the consistency of her poo...!
Posted by: Gary at April 22, 2004 05:31 PM