Shatter: Parents responsible for monitoring children's online activity

Justice Minister Alan Shatter said today that it is a matter for parents, and not legislation, to restrict their children's online activity.

A father in the North is attempting to sue Facebook in a landmark case regarding sexually suggestive photos that his 12-year-old daughter posted on the social networking site.

Facebook checks normally mean an account cannot be opened until someone is at least 13 years of age.

Minister Shatter said that it is an issue for people themselves rather than new laws.

"It’s not simply a matter of legislation," he said.

"This is a young girl who put stuff on Facebook herself. Parents have a very specific role to play in monitoring what their children are doing on the web.

"I don’t think it’s always a question about suing people, it’s about parents taking responsibility."