When it comes to school websites, keeping children’s identities safe isn’t just a good idea; it’s often a crucial part of safeguarding policies. At Blue Level, we take this responsibility to heart. That’s why we’ve rolled out a variety of features aimed at minimising the risk of misuse when it comes to displaying children’s photos online.
Whether you’re a school, a council, or a charity, your website needs to be secure, not just behind the scenes, but also in how it showcases images to the public. In this post, we’ll guide you through the practical measures we’ve integrated into some of our client websites and discuss how we’re using cutting-edge tools like AI to stay ahead of potential risks.
Why safeguarding children’s images is more important than ever.
With the rise of AI image scraping, deepfake technology, and even the simple act of sharing on social media, images online can be easily copied, misused, or taken out of context. For schools, where the safety of children is the top priority, publishing photos of students can feel like navigating a minefield.
Organisations now need to think beyond just “who can see this?” and start asking “what could someone do with this image once they see it?”—and that’s where we come in.
Smart tools we use to help protect children’s photos
We’ve collaborated with schools and councils that needed extra assurance that any child featured on their website would remain protected. Here’s what we’ve developed to help them achieve that:
1. Disable right-click and save image functions
This is a straightforward yet effective measure: we disable the right-click functionality on all publicly accessible images. This stops casual users from downloading photos directly from the site.
Of course, no method is completely foolproof (screenshots are still a thing), but it serves as a strong initial deterrent and is part of a layered approach to protection.
2. Watermarking on upload
We’ve created a unique watermark feature for our CMS, bLive, which lets admins automatically add watermarks to images as they’re uploaded. This means a visible identifier, like the school’s name or logo, is applied, making it harder for others to reuse the images and ensuring there’s a way to trace them if they pop up elsewhere.
3. Screenshot reduction techniques
While we can’t completely prevent someone from snapping a photo of a screen (sadly), we can make screenshots less tempting. By layering transparent elements or using blur overlays on featured images—especially on archive or gallery pages—we can deter casual captures.
Additionally, we can disable the print screen function on desktops to help minimise the chances of users taking screenshots.
4. AI-Based image obfuscation
Now we’re getting into some advanced territory.
For certain clients, we’ve harnessed AI to modify images for better protection by subtly blurring facial features and reimagining the images in different styles, like watercolors. These methods make it much harder for facial recognition software to pick out identifiable traits.
Going further: Best practice support for schools
We don’t just create websites; we partner with schools to review their safeguarding policies, offer training on managing images, and provide advice on consent-driven publishing processes.
If you’re not sure where to begin, here are some essential best practices:
- Always obtain clear, written parental consent before uploading images.
- Steer clear of publishing photos that display school badges or full names.
- Blur faces when permission isn’t granted, or opt for silhouettes instead.
- Keep image file names anonymous (for example, use IMG_3024.jpg instead of “harry-football-day.jpg”).
For more guidance on image use, check out the NSPCC’s resources.
Partner with a web agency that truly gets safeguarding
We’ve proudly crafted over 100 websites for schools and councils throughout the UK, and safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do—from secure CMS access to protecting images that are visible to the public.
If your safeguarding policy has strict guidelines regarding pupil photography, we’re here to help you create a website that prioritises child safety while still being user-friendly and visually appealing.
Whether you're looking for:
- A brand-new school website featuring built-in image protection.
- An assessment of your current site’s safeguarding compliance.
- Custom solutions like watermarked uploads or AI tools for face-blurring.
We’re here to help.