Child privacy and online documents
October 11, 2016 9:26 PM Subscribe
I'm assisting in an arbitration hearing, and part of my job is to upload documents that were submitted by the parties in the hearing. One party has submitted family court records that detail the abuse of herself, and a protective order for her child. The child is still a minor, and is named in the records. I do not feel it is ethical to upload this document and make it available to the public, while the arbiter has ordered that I upload it.
My first, main, question is: is anyone aware of any specific laws that would prohibit this information from being made public - even if it is a parent that is making the documents public? Alternately, as much as this feels wrong, I've been working super long hours and am mentally exhausted, and question whether I'm turning this into a major issue that's mostly in my own mind.
For some background: the case itself has nothing to do with the abuse. The document was submitted as part of the person's vitae.
I have legal counsel. They state that I am not responsible for screening documents, and that I should post it as ordered. I have also been ordered to have no direct communication with any party.
Final note: If I don't post the document there will be drama, but my job is not at risk in any way. I really want to know if I have a legal basis for my arguments, or if it is just a personal ethical issue.
My first, main, question is: is anyone aware of any specific laws that would prohibit this information from being made public - even if it is a parent that is making the documents public? Alternately, as much as this feels wrong, I've been working super long hours and am mentally exhausted, and question whether I'm turning this into a major issue that's mostly in my own mind.
For some background: the case itself has nothing to do with the abuse. The document was submitted as part of the person's vitae.
I have legal counsel. They state that I am not responsible for screening documents, and that I should post it as ordered. I have also been ordered to have no direct communication with any party.
Final note: If I don't post the document there will be drama, but my job is not at risk in any way. I really want to know if I have a legal basis for my arguments, or if it is just a personal ethical issue.
This post was deleted for the following reason: poster's request -- cortex
IMHO it's none of your business. Like your lawyer says, you post what you've been told to post.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:55 PM on October 11, 2016
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:55 PM on October 11, 2016
Response by poster: warriorqueen, I've deleted the personal info in my profile. Thanks.
posted by kanewai at 10:02 PM on October 11, 2016
posted by kanewai at 10:02 PM on October 11, 2016
"Just doing my job" has been a rationalization for some truly terrible acts throughout history. You should never put your ethical concerns in deep freeze because someone tells you it's not your business and you should just be a good little cog and do as you're told.
If you think this is wrong (and publicising such sensitive info about minor sounds wrong to me too!) you shouldn't do it. It would be great if you could find a legal justification for that, so if I were you I'd keep looking, because that reason will cause the least grief to yourself. I wish I could help more but I'm not knowledgeable about the law.
Even if it is legal, if you think it's not right, don't do it. You say your job isn't at risk, so why would you even be tempted? How will you feel about yourself if you do this vs. If you don't?
posted by mysterious_stranger at 10:22 PM on October 11, 2016
If you think this is wrong (and publicising such sensitive info about minor sounds wrong to me too!) you shouldn't do it. It would be great if you could find a legal justification for that, so if I were you I'd keep looking, because that reason will cause the least grief to yourself. I wish I could help more but I'm not knowledgeable about the law.
Even if it is legal, if you think it's not right, don't do it. You say your job isn't at risk, so why would you even be tempted? How will you feel about yourself if you do this vs. If you don't?
posted by mysterious_stranger at 10:22 PM on October 11, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by warriorqueen at 9:39 PM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]