Tip of the iceberg – what problems can sharenting cause?

„An 18 year old woman is now suing her parents because they posted her pictures on Facebook. According to the claimant, the parents started sharing hundreds of pictures of their child as early as 2009, including intimate and emberrassing moments. The parents knew no shame or boundaries.”

„A mother was fined 10.000,- euros, because she posted pictures of her teenage son on Facebook without the son’s consent – decided a court in Rome.”

A few years ago, cases like these could have sounded absurd, however more and more similar lawsuits are being filed nowadays.

Why would sharing a picture mean any problems? Parents have been showing pictures of their children for ages, isn’t this the same? Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding no.

Legal aspects of sharenting

According to the Hungarian Civil Code, people under the age of 18 have limited capacity to act. The law further divides minors into two categories: people under 14 have no capacity to act at all, while people between 14 and 18 have limited capacity, meaning that for their actions to be valid, the approval of their legal guardian is necessary. Still, minors are considered as individual human being with their own legal capacity and their own rights. Additionally, their rights are further protected by additional rules in order to guarantee their healthy upbringing.

It is evident that a child (minor) is dependent on their parents. This dependency however must not limit the protection of their rights, it should broaden it. This is also true to the child’s personality rights. Posting a picture of a minor without their consent is a violation of their rights. The parents’ rights are also limited as per what they must, what they can, and what they cannot do to their children. Violating their personality rights is one such issue.

What is the potential risk of this?

First of all, sharenting puts the security, identity and good reputation of the child at risk. At the very least, their personality rights may easily be violated. Additionally, posting an excessive amount of content on the internet may harm the family’s trust and harmony. In extreme cases, crimes may also be commited, such as harrassment or other actions.

Regarding basic rights and freedoms the source of the problem is that the parents’ freedom of speech and opinion confronts the child’s right for self-determination, dignity, personal life, personal secrecy and rights regarding personal images.

Additionally, sharenting may also pose problems regarding data security and data protection. What is once posted on the internet, will never leave the internet, and this is also true for the child’s pictures and other contents. It is all too easy to download or copy any content posted on the internet, even if the post itself has security measures built into the platform. It is the parents’ obligation to consider such risks before posting anything about their child on the internet.

What should parents do before posting contents of their children?

§ It is recommended to study the security settings and measures of the chosen platforms

§ They must be aware of the fact that they can and they should ask for professional help in case they are in doubt

§ They must make sure never to share any location data regarding their child

§ They must always ask the child’s permission before posting anything

§ They must not share any materials in which the child’s body is exposed in any way

§ They must consider the potetnial effects of any published materials on the child’s life

What can the child do?

§ They have the right to protest to their pictures being published or shared

§ They can have their pictures removed by the operator of the site

§ In case of serious violation of rights they can also sue for restitution or even damages

Summary

Parents should exercise caution when posting anything about their children on social media or on the internet. Exposing the child’s life or any data may result in serious consequences. If in doubt, one should always seek professional legal – or other – help. Children also have rights to their own pictures and materials that should be respected and protected at all times.

Should you have any questions or need legal help regarding the above topics, feel free to reach out to our office!

When buying a property, the amount of credit available is not the only factor that matters. It is equally important to understand the conditions and long-term commitments involved. The new Wekerle Plus scheme may offer an opportunity for first-time homebuyers, but there are several important details to clarify before applying.

Owning a home is a long-term goal for many people, often requiring substantial savings or a mortgage. Launched on October 28, 2026, the Wekerle Plus home loan scheme may help eligible applicants purchase their own property through preferential interest rates. However, the scheme is not simply a financial opportunity: applicants must also consider the eligibility requirements and the obligations they will be expected to fulfil in the years ahead.

Divorce can raise significant questions not only in personal life but also regarding the future of a business. This is particularly true when one spouse owns a company or when the spouses have built a business together during their marriage. In such cases, an important question arises: if the company is registered in only one spouse’s name, can the other spouse claim a share of its value?

The answer depends on several factors, including when and how the business interest was acquired, the period during which the spouses’ marital community of property existed, and whether joint marital assets were used to finance the business.

When transferring a high-value property, the key question is not only under which legal title the property can be acquired, but also what tax or duty consequences arise from the chosen legal arrangement. This is particularly relevant where the acquirer does not fall within the scope of persons exempt from inheritance or gift duty. This raises an important question: which legal arrangement – inheritance, gift, maintenance agreement, inheritance contract or trust – may result in the lowest duty burden?

Notice: This article does not constitute legal advisory services, and does not necessarily match the interpretation of the applicable laws by the authorities. This article is for general information only.

In today’s modern legal environment, the documented and professional examination of digital evidence, as well as the protection of devices and user accounts, has become increasingly important in legal disputes and proceedings.

Our firm’s cooperating partner in this field is Biztonság Akadémia Kft.

The professional expertise of our partner is provided by Tamás Durmics, an independent IT security expert and ethical hacker with more than 25 years of experience in information technology and security. His work focuses on documented and independent examination methodologies, as well as on presenting technical findings in a clear and comprehensible manner suitable for use in legal proceedings.

One of the most common situations giving rise to the greatest number of conflicts during probate proceedings is when the deceased dies without making a testamentary disposition. In such cases, the fate of the assets and debts is determined by the statutory order of succession under the Hungarian Civil Code. Although the rules are clear, a significant proportion of clients are not aware of the more important changes introduced by the Civil Code currently in force, particularly with regard to the rights of the surviving spouse or the extent of the compulsory share.