Children's right to privacy online : Between autonomy and protection

Abstract: This study examines the ethical balance of children’s autonomy and parents’ responsibility to protect in relation to the digital environment. The balance also relates to the right to privacy which can be limited with the intention to protect the child, but the child’s evolving capacities and autonomy is to be taken into consideration.  The purpose is to search for a plausible understanding of the ethical balance of children’s autonomy and the parental responsibility to protect within the context of the digital sphere. This means I make the case that how the child’s autonomy is viewed is fundamental for determining the balance within this context. Two theoretical perspectives on autonomy of Amy Mullin and Joseph Raz are utilized in the study. Additionally, I offer an analysis of a general comment on children’s rights in relation to the digital environment and other material from UNICEF’s research centre Innocenti.