Right to the image of the child: what are the obligations of the parents?

Verified 27 April 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Parents have a duty to ensure that their child's privacy is respected. They exercise joint parental authority. But it is possible that parental authority is exercised by only one of the parents. This is the case, for example of a single-parent family.

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Exercise of authority by the 2 parents

It's up to the parents to protect in common the right to the image of their minor child, while respecting the right to privacy.

For example, parents should monitor the distribution of photos or videos on the internet and in particular on social networks.

Parents must involve the child in the exercise of his or her right to image, depending on his or her age and maturity.

If one of the parents does not respect the child's right to image, the other parent may enter the Jaf: titleContent on which the child's habitual residence depends. The judge may prohibit the parent from publishing or disseminating the child's image without the consent of the other parent.

A parent who disseminates an image of the minor child may be sentenced to damages and interest if he has caused harm to his child.

Where the dissemination of the child's image by his parents undermines his dignity or morality, the judge may delegate the exercise of the right to image.

Exercise of parental authority by a single parent

It's up to that parent to protect alone the right to the image of a minor child, while respecting the right to privacy.

If this parent does not respect the child's right to image, the Jaf: titleContent on which the child's habitual residence depends may be seized by a third party (a family member or professional).

The judge may prohibit the parent from publishing or disseminating the child's image.

A parent who disseminates an image of the minor child may be sentenced to damages and interest if he has caused harm to his child.

Where the dissemination of the child's image by that parent undermines his or her dignity or morality, the judge may delegate the exercise of the right to image.

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