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Original poster

Meetup photo disgust

248 replies

Doglover321 · 11/11/2024 19:50

I’m the Organizer of a popular Meetup group and we recently had our large 1 Year Anniversary event in a local pub. Ahead of the event, I decided to post that we will have a group photo at 8pm for anyone who wants to, and then went around and reminded members just before 8pm that we’re about to take our group photo and they can be in it if they want. There were about 50 of us in attendance, but I specifically remember speaking to two new members and asking them if they want to be in the group photo, to which they responded that they absolutely did. They are pictured in the photo smiling and posing!

HOWEVER, one of these new members has two months later changed her mind and been ordering that the photo is deleted and taken down from all platforms - including Meetup itself, that she didn’t consent, etc.

Where do I stand on this, please?! Don’t tell me I’m going to get them to fill in photo consent forms going forward?!?!

OP posts:
Floofypuppy · 13/11/2024 17:26

@lasagnelle GDPR has nothing to do with stopping emails. It also has nothing to do with the op taking a photo and posting it. H2h

Original poster
Doglover321 · 13/11/2024 17:24

MrsJackRackam · 13/11/2024 17:21

Private vs public space is to do with the alcohol licence. It's a private space as you're there by 'invitation' only. The licence holder can withdraw that invitation at anytime and ask you to leave without giving any reason. It's called a public house because it's not a private members club, like a bowling club.
I've no idea about GDPR implications though.

Edited

Got it - thanks for clearing that up!

OP posts:
MrsJackRackam · 13/11/2024 17:21

Private vs public space is to do with the alcohol licence. It's a private space as you're there by 'invitation' only. The licence holder can withdraw that invitation at anytime and ask you to leave without giving any reason. It's called a public house because it's not a private members club, like a bowling club.
I've no idea about GDPR implications though.

lasagnelle · 13/11/2024 17:21

Floofypuppy · 13/11/2024 17:19

I mean..gdpr says otherwise

and here we go again. People talking nonsense with no understanding. I mean….the last person who posted and argued for this eventually removed all of her posts as she was proven wrong!

@lasagnelle

Edited

Wtf. Consent can be retracted. I say sure spam me with emails and then I say actually no.

Floofypuppy · 13/11/2024 17:19

I mean..gdpr says otherwise

and here we go again. People talking nonsense with no understanding. I mean….the last person who posted and argued for this eventually removed all of her posts as she was proven wrong!

@lasagnelle

Boomer55 · 13/11/2024 16:52

She agreed to it. Just tell her her to jog on 🤷‍♀️

Cyb3rg4l · 13/11/2024 16:45

another1bitestheduck · 12/11/2024 16:03

It's not a private place! as pp's have said, the clue is in the name!
Think of other similar venues as an example
e.g. family taking photos in a restaurant that happens to capture other diners in the background
Theatre taking a photo of an audience giving standing ovation
Nightclub or gig venue posting videos of crowd screaming/dancing
Shop posting on their social media showing people queueing for sales to start
CCTV in a shop or high street

Nobody needs to ask for consent in any of these, and nobody can 'opt' out of potentially being filmed or what happens with the images/video after.

It is different to children opting out of school photos, or even adults opting out of work ones, because they could be used to potential identify the person - e.g. if a child is photographed with an X school jumper on someone could reasonably assume they'd be coming out of X school at 3pm on a Tuesday. But seeing Random Woman at a pub on one occasions is no indication of whether she goes there every day, or has only been once in her life.

Show quote history

It’s not so much where it was taken but the fact it was then published to advertise a meet-up group. She would have no right for example to insist you delete a photo taken in a public place off your phone. Legally for data protection purposes taking a picture and publishing a picture are two separate things.

While she consented to being in the photo and initially seemed ok with it being published now she is not. And that’s ok. It does not mean OP has to take down the picture it does mean she needs to blur her face, because when a data subject withdraws consent that is what the Data Protection Act 2018 requires.

It is a bit baffling All the shenanigans with threats of lawyers etc and we’ll never know why she changed her mind but it is what it is 🤷‍♀️

TheCatterall · 13/11/2024 16:22

lasagnelle · 13/11/2024 15:59

I mean..gdpr says otherwise

Show quote history

Yup. I can change my mind about the emails I receive and all sorts of goodies.

lasagnelle · 13/11/2024 15:59

Doglover321 · 13/11/2024 12:18

Update: I have since posted to the discussions board reminding everyone that most of the time photos taken at events don’t just stay in someone’s phone photo gallery never to see the light of day and that it is the responsibility of the individual not to be in a photo unless they want to be in one. Consent can’t be retracted!

I mean..gdpr says otherwise

lasagnelle · 13/11/2024 15:58

Whack a zany emoji on her head and be done with it

Original poster
Doglover321 · 13/11/2024 15:56

Curtainqueen · 13/11/2024 15:49

So you’re determined to die on this hill then and refuse her requests, in spite of the trouble that’s now causing other people? Her request is bonkers I don’t disagree, your reaction however is just going to antagonise her even more. They can still retract consent by the way.

Edited
Show quote history

I didn’t post this exact quote. I’ve just told you essentially what I said, but in much more informal language

OP posts:
Curtainqueen · 13/11/2024 15:49

Doglover321 · 13/11/2024 12:18

Update: I have since posted to the discussions board reminding everyone that most of the time photos taken at events don’t just stay in someone’s phone photo gallery never to see the light of day and that it is the responsibility of the individual not to be in a photo unless they want to be in one. Consent can’t be retracted!

So you’re determined to die on this hill then and refuse her requests, in spite of the trouble that’s now causing other people? Her request is bonkers I don’t disagree, your reaction however is just going to antagonise her even more. They can still retract consent by the way.

Cyb3rg4l · 13/11/2024 12:53

Doglover321 · 13/11/2024 12:18

Update: I have since posted to the discussions board reminding everyone that most of the time photos taken at events don’t just stay in someone’s phone photo gallery never to see the light of day and that it is the responsibility of the individual not to be in a photo unless they want to be in one. Consent can’t be retracted!

I think the first bit is great but think you should add ‘or let someone know you do not consent to having your photo published’ additionally I would remove the last sentence as legally for photos published on SM platforms consent can be retracted and you can’t take that legal right away in your terms however annoying it might be.

Enough4me · 13/11/2024 12:20

Good call OP.
Adults can adult themselves simply by stepping outside of group photos.

Original poster
Doglover321 · 13/11/2024 12:18

Update: I have since posted to the discussions board reminding everyone that most of the time photos taken at events don’t just stay in someone’s phone photo gallery never to see the light of day and that it is the responsibility of the individual not to be in a photo unless they want to be in one. Consent can’t be retracted!

OP posts:
northernsouldownsouth · 13/11/2024 10:22

Weird woman! I don't how she can bothered to put so much effort into this.
Let her take legal action and spend pointless amounts of money on a legal case that will go nowhere
Reminds me of those types who generate minor property disputes and then end up spending tens of thousands of pounds on legal fees to prove their point (and usually don't win!)

BoogieBoogieWoogie · 13/11/2024 10:14

Have you actually removed/blurred her from the meetup site photo yet as she asked? If not then please do that. If you have and she's complaining about the versions which have been shared by other people then tell her to contact those individuals herself.

And remove her from the group

Firestorms · 13/11/2024 10:10

Agree with others just blur her out in the main group picture, any other copies are not your problem.

NotThatWitty · 13/11/2024 10:04

I organise meetup groups. Honestly, I blur her image (as others have suggested), and remove her from the group. Next meetup event, take another group picture, and use that for the group instead.

LadyGabriella · 13/11/2024 09:33

Wow she sounds completely mad. I think for your peace of mind just agree to blur her out. Also, I would now bar her from future meet-ups.

Abi86 · 13/11/2024 09:32

Doglover321 · 13/11/2024 09:14

This lady is now threatening legal action!! She has also sent our Assistant Organizer messages. Hope they’re both having fun!

Let her spend her time and money on lawyering up. Just respond with "ok". Ok to what will be the question.

TheCatterall · 13/11/2024 09:29

@Doglover321 have you contacted her and explained that as it’s a voluntary role you will removed her image as soon as is reasonably possible around your actual work commitments and that you will remove her likeness from your meetup events by end of day Friday as a reasonable time frame?

Or have you acknowledged her request at all. I can’t recall the whole thread.

Original poster
Doglover321 · 13/11/2024 09:14

This lady is now threatening legal action!! She has also sent our Assistant Organizer messages. Hope they’re both having fun!

OP posts:
Givemethreerings · 13/11/2024 05:53

another1bitestheduck · 12/11/2024 19:39

none of these examples are using the individual's image for commercial purposes though?
e.g. Sky might make money from showing the football game but not from shots of the crowd
Same as the band, they might make money overall from selling the video, but not from the people in the audience singing along....
Same with CCTV etc - they aren't recording to make money but to reduce shoplifting/maintain security
you've got no rights to opt out of any of them. If you don't want to be filmed in 2024, don't go out in public.

and OP definitely isn't using the photo for that purpose

so your point is moot.

Show quote history

Thanks, but the examples you gave were being photographed in a queue outside a shop and at a gig.

These images are absolutely used for marketing, - eg social media advertising / brand awareness posts and videos. Anyway we’re splitting hairs and people clearly have a range of views on this.

FWIW, OP, I’d go with assuming your friend has a worthwhile reason and isn’t just being petty - and doing this simple request. The world is combative enough without making simple asks from friends a battle too.

Cyb3rg4l · 13/11/2024 00:57

eightIsNewNine · 12/11/2024 23:06

Would it be too much to take two photos, one for private memory of attendees and second for public sharing?

Easier to take one for public sharing and let everyone else take them for their own memories I think.