Webcams may keep eye on childcare

Fairfax

KID CAMERA: A company is advertising a "parents' eye" security camera that allows them to monitor their children via a cellphone or computer.

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Parents worried about their children at childcare centres may soon be able to keep an eye on them from home or work.

A company is advertising a "parents' eye" security camera that allows them to monitor their children via a cellphone or computer.

The company, which has just started marketing the technology in New Zealand, says the webcams will make pupils and teachers more accountable for their actions.

"A lot of vulnerable children can really be exposed, especially if a teacher or another kid does something to harm them. This will stop that from happening," said Tyrone Voigt of Australian technology firm Syron.

But the assistant privacy commissioner has warned childcare centres that they need to be careful about using the technology.

"Camera technology is being used more and more – for good reasons in many instances – but there are risks with it, especially where material is being transmitted over the internet," Katrine Evans said.

"Childcare centres should work closely with their employees and with all families ... before installing any webcam system. After all, webcams allow parents and caregivers to view not only their own children but other people's children too, and the employees in the centre. So they need to get everyone's consent before using cameras."

She also warned there would need to be protections in place to prevent people from copying footage and uploading it on to social networking sites.

The camera was advertised in the Early Childhood Council's magazine, which is sent to about 2000 centres in New Zealand, but none has decided to use the technology yet.

The advertisement said being able to monitor a child in the classroom would give parents "peace of mind".

"By using a unique password that allows parents to watch classroom activity ... through a cellphone, [or] computer ... parents can be reassured that the classroom is a secure environment.

"A quality school will have one or more ways for a parent, grandparent or guardian to observe classroom activity."

Early Childhood Council chief executive Sarah Farquhar said there had long been concerns about having cameras in centres, but they were being overcome.

"There was fear the only purpose was to protect children against abuse. But now we have got through that and it's now about enabling parents to keep in touch with their child's activities during the day.

"It's the way of the future. Otherwise it's hard for parents to get access to their child's world while they are working."

- © Fairfax NZ News