It's an AIBU but it belongs here - Stonewall

Oh, hm. Yes, you would expect all child and young people charities/orgs to have really clear information on that, wouldn't you?

Sorry if I've missed someone suggesting this but wouldn't you report them (and Stonewall for supporting it) to CEOP?

www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/

Out of interest I looked at the Childline safeguarding policy - they are an established charity with the purpose of being a sort of emergency private helpline for children (I am harking back to Esther Rantzen's days so may be wrong here).

I assumed that they must have some sort of super gold standard for safeguarding and wondered how they get over the parental permission and age thing.
I was surprised to see that Childline is part of the NSPCC and their policy doesn't mention anything about the age of a child and the law relating to holding data.

They have a Confidentiality promise section where it does say that if a child tells them about a risk to safety they will have to report it but no mention of age or talking to parents.

They also have a How to guide on Covering your tracks to hide browser history etc - again this is slightly worrying as it is obviously designed to help vulnerable children but what is in place to prevent unexpected consequences?

We already know that the NSPCC has employed people who have been caught indulging in unacceptable sexual behaviours in the office so where are the checks and double checks for that?

Do these groups think data protection law and established safeguarding practices only apply to other people?

[quote FindTheTruth]According to The information commissioners office (ICO), in their Guide to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Children:

Where the child is below the age of 16 years, such processing shall be lawful only if and to the extent that consent is given or authorised by the holder of parental responsibility over the child.

ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/children-and-the-gdpr/[/quote]
Does this mean that Mermaids is also in breach of GDPR with this form for children to join their 'youth community'?

This page is reached from a link from here, so it is definitely for the children themselves to use. There is no mention of a minimum age.

There is a link from the youth forum application page to their code of conduct, which appears to be for parents, and says nothing relevant to children filling in the form.

The application to join the youth forum requires a phone number, and Mermaids say: "This is so a member of the admin team can call you for a confidential chat prior to approving your membership. Our number will come-up as "withheld" when we call. This is for complete confidentiality."

I'm wondering if the Information Commissioner is the right place to make a complaint about this?

"ready to fight whoever, legally, verbally and physically. I don't care at this point"

How pathetic does one have to be to immediately jump to wanting to "fight" rather than engage in good faith, acknowledge and since any issues that have been raised? We see it all the time, I don't think it's ever helped anyone's cause.

Oddly I rarely see it in a professional environment.

The woman running the organisation seems passionate and wants to help young people. That's great; she should maybe spend some time working with reputable organisations to learn how they operate and best practise.

It's a childish, unprofessional approach

It's not really inspiring any confidence that this organisation can be trusted with the sensitive data of children & young people.

I've got the automatic email confirmation ... so far

I guess more could do it.... what do you think?

She does't seem to understand that this isn't something to take personally. This is about safeguarding children, it's not rocket science, and people aren't 'fighting' her, they're just trying to ensure children aren't left open to exploitation. Good intentions don't really cut it.

It's a childish, unprofessional approach. Really fucking bizarre reaction.

Thank you. Do only 1 of us need to or is it better for more to do it?

The person behind this proposed organization (Exist Loudly) is tweeting that she is

"ready to fight whoever, legally, verbally and physically. I don't care at this point"

FGS, has she got a self destruct button? I don't doubt her passion or her intentions but it's not enough to just 'exist loudly'. There are times when everyone has to also shut up and listen, particularly when those she is shouting down/threatening are so much more educated and experienced than she is.

Well done. Hope you get a response.

I've emailed the ICO

Dear information commissioner

An organisation called Exist Loudly UK are asking 12 year old children to direct message them on Twitter with their age, ethnicity, sexuality, gender & location. They tweeted at 11:34am 8 September 2020. This is the link twitter.com/ExistLoudlyUK/status/1303280636229230592

I understand that this in breach of breach of the GDPR and PECR and that you have the powers to take action.

Regards

So, they need an impact assessment, and an 'appropriate policy document'.

'It’s not just that this type of information might be seen as more sensitive or ‘private’. The recitals to the GDPR explain that these types of personal data merit specific protection. This is because use of this data could create significant risks to the individual’s fundamental rights and freedoms. For example, the various categories are closely linked with:

freedom of thought, conscience and religion;
freedom of expression;
freedom of assembly and association;
the right to bodily integrity;
the right to respect for private and family life; or
freedom from discrimination.

The presumption is that this type of data needs to be treated with greater care because collecting and using it is more likely to interfere with these fundamental rights or open someone up to discrimination. This is part of the risk-based approach of the GDPR.'

@ArabellaScott - you're right!

The GDPR defines special category data as:

personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin;
personal data revealing political opinions;
personal data revealing religious or philosophical beliefs;
personal data revealing trade union membership;
genetic data;
biometric data (where used for identification purposes);
data concerning health;
data concerning a person’s sex life
data concerning a person’s sexual orientation.

Childrens commissioner?

www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/

an organisation that is not any form of legal entity is on pretty slippery territory collecting any data let alone this type

The Information Commisioners' office?

I think this is 'special category data'

ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/lawful-basis-for-processing/special-category-data/

I noticed Stonewall retweeted a trans man saying "I came out as ‘lesbian’ at 12 and trans at 15. I then started T at 16 and had top surgery at 17. To claim children cannot understand themselves is unbelievably damaging. I am so grateful I transitioned when I did."

No irony detected in Stonewall promoting a person of the female sex putting their sexual orientation in scare quotes and cheerfully exclaiming that they began cross sex hormones at 16, a year after deciding they were actually not a girl, and a year later had a mastectomy.

Stonewall is lesbophobic to the very core and they don't even see the horror in promoting cosmetic mastectomy on teenagers. I just can't...

So they should be reported to...??? Police? Someone should report to the appropriate place then

[quote ArabellaScott]Okay, thanks.

So this group, posting out binders to children, was in breach?

'MORF is based at the Manchester headquarters of the LGBT Foundation which has received close to £1.2 million from the Department of Health and a £500,000 grant from The Big Lottery Fund.'

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6450485/Trans-activists-send-free-breast-binders-13-year-olds.html[/quote]
In the transcript of the phone conversation the 'child' is also told they can come in in person and try the binders on!

Fucking hell. To a supposed 13yr old girl. This shit needs to be shut down asap,

Ah, and I see they have changed their name, too.