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REUTERS
The family of a Wellington girl feel that sharing a children’s news article featuring their daughter was embezzled by a political candidate for a ‘smear campaign’ against the rainbow.
The parents of an 11-year-old Wellington girl are upset. The name and photo of his daughter have been used by a political candidate for a “smear campaign” against the rainbow.
A social media post that was shared last week on the Facebook page of Elliot Ikilei of the New Conservative Party names Charli Bickerton, 11, who recently appeared on KEA Kids News go behind the scenes of Circa Theater The glitter garden, a drag show for children.
“A very sexualized child with a lot of makeup,” Ikilei wrote about Charli in her post, which links to her story. He also inferred that the drag queens were “grooming” the children.
Natasha and Blair Bickerton tell their daughter’s story to Stuff channel KEA Kids News it has been embezzled and used for political purposes, as an attack on the rainbow community.
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Jarred Williamson / Things
Elliot Ikilei of the New Conservative Party made the post on his Facebook page.
Ikilei did not request any permission to use her daughter’s identifying information in her post, nor would they have allowed it, under any circumstances. They had asked Ikilei to remove the post, however, he had not responded.
Asked by Stuff if I removed the post, Ikilei said: “All I did was put the link; it was yourselves [Stuff] who thought it would be a good idea to plant a kid with drag makeup on the cover. “
When asked if he could see how the post might be offensive to the Bickertons, or if he thought it was appropriated KEA Kids News story, he said, “I wonder why you would use a child to bring adult entertainment to children.”
Monique Ford / Stuff
Netsafe CEO Martin Cocker says the remaining position came down to personal ethics.
Blair Bickerton feels that Ikilei is unfairly capable of getting away with publishing online and using his daughter’s identity for political gain. The Bickertons had never heard of the party before learning of the post.
“The original purpose of [the KEA Kids News article] was to support that community, don’t use your name, age and face for a smear campaign, ”said Natasha Bickerton.
Previously Hugo Grrrl, who organized The glitter garden, said they had received death threats and other abuse after Ikilei shared “misinformation” about the program.
Netsafe CEO Martin Cocker said the challenge in allowing the post to remain active lay in the fact that the girl’s original news report was posted on a public forum. Stuff.
However, ethically, Ikilei would have to weigh her own political motivations against responsibilities around child protection and whether the post was fair to the 11-year-old, Cocker said.
Much of the content that was produced during the elections was more protected, as it was classified as politically motivated, Cocker said. “Political speech is the most protected speech.”
RNZ
Researchers from the University of Victoria have analyzed more than 1,000 Facebook posts posted by parties and leaders over a two-week period.
Facebook was developing strong provisions on hate speech and trying to put in place other provisions that could provide guidance in cases like this, Cocker said.
A spokeswoman for the Electoral Commission said the commission did not regulate the content of election announcements. “This means that issues like the accuracy of the facts or offensive or misleading advertising are not matters we can help with.”
A comment has been requested from Facebook.
The glitter garden it is about children who accept themselves and are good friends.
