What your child does online - Are you responsible?

[Bill in SD, CA]

With the recent RIAA lawsuit against the 12 year old girl for sharing files the question comes to mind:

How much legal responsibility does a parent have when it comes to what their child does online?

Generally a parent is legally civilly and sometimes criminally responsible for the "willful misconduct" of a minor child.

However, does this now mean that parents have to "snoop" on their child's online activities in order to avoid prosecution? Here in California a child from 7th. grade up can get an abortion while in school without the parents knowledge and this law is based on the child's "right" to privacy.

If the child is not aware of the the copyright laws and the parent is unaware of the sharing the child is doing how can the parent be held financially responsible?

While I can figure out what's going on, I know my wife has no clue about what my kids do online, how to find out, and even know where to look to find out.

I think this woman could have avoided the fines from a legal standpoint.

Bill

[shahani]

Law says parents are responsible.

With the amount of downloading my boys do, I'm getting kinda scared. The 12 year old's mom paid $2,000 fine.

You think hiding behind a proxy has any effect?

I'd hate to be financially responsible for something I personally didn't do.

yes they are responsible to be involed with what the child is doing. The problem is that the parents have no clue what child is doing online. They didnt have computers when they were younger so the child who does use it knows how to hide what they are doing

[Bovon]

Originally posted by Bill in SD, CA
How much legal responsibility does a parent have when it comes to what their child does online?

Bill, according to the law a parent or parents are totally responsible for where their minor childrens transgressions and infractions are concerned. Usually, unless the deed is horrendous, the law (powers that be) will strongly reprimand a parent (usually the father..if there is a known father) and drop the issue. Sometimes however, when the "deed" is severe, the law can mete out some punishment to the parent...again, usually the father..if there is a known father.

About 4 years ago..in Florida I believe.. there was a meek man who was the father(?) of a kid who was forever getting into something..drugs, drinking..stealing cars...driving without a license (he was 14) breaking and entering etc. etc. you get the picture..the guy was finally handed a 6 month sentence because he could not control the kid...the kid by this time was in a foster home. The father was "molested" in jail...5 days later, he hung himself in his cell...3 months later, the kid shot his mother and himself.

This of course was a way out in left field example of what can happen to a parent who cannot or does not keep his/her underlings on the straight and narrow.

Until recently (last 5 - 10 years) young people generally did not bother adults or get into something that would bring shame and/or hurt to their families. This is changing very fast. Young people today have little regard for any hurt they may inflict on others..they are out to "do their thing", and to he** with anybody that gets in their way.

Hacking websites and creating virus software is just one way they have of saying to the world...here I am..what are you gonna do about it.

I certainly do not have any pat answers, but if your kid screws with my computer, am I within my "rights" to find and kick his a**? Not hardly!!..so..where is fair? Who is responsible? not the kid..he/she is a minor..the father?..he is not around..the mother?..she cries and tells the judge she does the best she can with what little she has.

In some regions where the kids are really getting into it, there are some familys talking vigilante's concerning kids. Many people are fed up with young immature adolescence trying to prove they can get away with anything because of their age..ask most any street cop, and he will affirm this.

Kids really need to take notice of the waves that are moving thru the older generations..the working stiffs are not gonna take this crap forever, and will someday take the law into their own hands.

I hope not!

[Chuckiechan]

A parent is responsible for his children, period. You are responsible for everything that you own, period.

Although my kids are grown, I recommed to parents that their be one family computer, and it should be kept in a community room. I don't like the idea of giving "Johnny" his own computer and letting him lock hiself in his room with it. You are begging for trouble.