Skip to main content

Open petition: Make it illegal to photograph minors in public without parental consent.

Created by Laura Anne Cawser
Closes on

Make it illegal to photograph minors in public spaces without the consent of a parent or legal guardian where the child is the main subject of the image, and prohibit the online sharing of such images without consent.

Current UK law allows photography in public, but smartphones and social media can let strangers capture and share images of children without parental or legal guardian consent. We think this creates serious safeguarding risks. Legislation should target images where a child is the main subject, ban online sharing without consent, and allow exceptions for parents, legal guardians, journalists, or public events, balancing child protection with freedom of expression.

Sign this petition

121 signatures


Petition progress

View all updates for this petition, with the most recent first.

  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 13 October 2026.