Commentary on Sections Section 13: Anonymity for children and young people
62.This section requires the Commissioner to ensure, so far as reasonable and practicable, that children or young people referred to in a report have their anonymity preserved. The Commissioner might decide not to preserve anonymity where, for example, naming a group of children or young people in a report would be beneficial in highlighting their views. The Act does not make specific provision in relation to the disclosure of the identity of individuals who are not children or young people. This gives the Commissioner a discretion about whether to identify them. In practice, the Commissioner might preserve the anonymity of an adult where, for example, information has been given in confidence.