to be upset about being filmed by a teenager in the street?

[sugarcoat21]

I've just walked my 7yr old to school and a secondary school school pupil filmed both of us as she walked past with her friend. As they went past the girl holding the phone said "it's outstanding" in a sort of game show tone if you know what I mean. Obviously they were taking the piss out of me. After they passed I shouted, did you just film us but they were to busy watching it back to hear. My 7yr old was confused by what had happened and asked me if they had filmed him because he looks funny! I assured him they were just silly girls. I'm worried what will happen with the video now, I don't want my son and I possibly plastered on the net in these circumstances.

I called the school who said without a name they couldn't do anything so I'm considering calling the police. Am I over reacting?

Private it's not the only time it's happened. When I was pregnant I had one bloke (it's only ever been men) come up to me and scream in my face that I was a big fat cunt. I was traumatised for years and even now I won't go to that place again. But as my kids have gotten older I've stopped giving a shit. I stand up for myself and embarrass the abusive prick/s simultaneously.

I repeat, It was the school who suggest I contact the police. I'd be happy for them to be given a ticking off by school and it left there. They were in uniform and as stated by the school representing them. I'm not that upset, more annoyed and bemused that they treated me and my son like that. Just silly girls but these things can get out of hand. Better they learn a lesson from this than after going to far.

MistressMolecules "Do you know what school they went to? Could you describe them? If so then I would contact the school - see if there is anything they can do."

Read the OP!

DioneTheDiabolist She's contacted the school! It's in the OP!

I think you should photograph them so the school can take action. It's not okay to film your son without your permission and his.

Sorry OP, I thought you'd meant you had spoken to your DC's school.

Just cancel the cheque :)

I don't think it's an over reaction to be upset, if you're unsure of the context? They could have just been mucking about. They could also have been filming you. Very difficult to tell. Perhaps take the same route again and if it happens again, confront the girls. Of course, it's not illegal to film someone but I don't think I'd be happy if I believed someone was taking a video of me without my consent and possibly using it, for mockery.
Women eating on the train - I remember that being a big deal a few years ago as it was clearly taking photos without someone's consent and trying to make a joke out of the "unbelievable" concept of a woman being unable to spare time for a lunch break.

Yeah it may not be illegal and it might be kids mucking about but its disrespecful for children to opening try and embarrass or ridicule an adult.
Then again,i have zero tolerance for stuff like that.
I agree if they had an angry reaction on film it would have been interesting viewing(to idiots) but now it would be totally boring.
Id definitely challenge them now,after the event, preferably seperately and see how cocky they are then.

Being an avid photographer I want to protect the right to photography in public places as it captures our times for both people and places. I get funny looks sometimes carrying camera kit around which i find odd as if i wanted to do something suspicious surely a massive camera is not the best way to be subtle.

That said there is no excuse for mockery of other people, completely distasteful. You have my sympathy OP (and some of the others here). I would take a picture of there faces and show the school so they can have a word.

When I was pregnant I had one bloke (it's only ever been men) come up to me and scream in my face that I was a big fat cunt.

Fairly sure that is actual assault.

OP - I meant to say I sympathise - I have been the victim of teenagers pisstakes too and it's no fun, but I agree with pp about wishing to protect the right of folks to film and photograph in a public place.

I agree. It's invasive and horrible. I have a horror of becoming a meme. I'm a bit fat, pretty ugly and photograph really, really badly.

LogicallyLost

I can't believe the school advised calling the police. Talk about passing the buck.

I'm a bobby and I genuinely don't know what I could do in this situation. At the moment it's just a one off instance of something that's not illegal. If they were there every day being intimidating and a general PITA the neighbourhood bobbies may be interested as it could be seen as ASB but it's a bit of a stretch. Depends on how busy an area it is and what their priorities are really

Lurking The guidance you posted is out of date. The searches under the 2000 Terror Act are now illegal and have been stopped.

thanks lurking, I have seen that but not in a while :)

kierenthecommunity you can do something if it constitutes harrassment but that would take more than one instance and it's a "grey" area.

OP.. I would be livid at this. Cocky little sods.

I'd like to think I've brought my kids up with more respect / morals than to ridicule people, especially those they don't know and their Elders to boot.

I'd be surprised at anyone who brushed this off easily if they felt that it was 'targetted', as your post suggested.

wasonthelist

The guidance you posted is out of date. The searches under the 2000 Terror Act are now illegal and have been stopped.

Tx for that. My interest is more from a data POV than photography per se.

However it's worth noting that going back a few years even the police were forced to admit that "many policemen didn't understand the law"

I can understand why you were upset. Its the paranoia of what they are going to do with it. But i don't think theres anything you can do, short of shoving their phone out their hand I'm not sure how you could confront it (baring in mind they were already filming). The school should have given you more soothing sounds and said they will have an assembley on appropriate behaviour - certainly whilst they are 'representing the school' in their uniform.

I fainted in a shop recently and when i came to, a lovely lady was ringing an ambulance and a man was stood there filming me (perhaps hoping i took a turn for the worse). I wished i had said something to him, but clearly i wasn't in the right frame of mind.
Peoples reactions now seem to be 'film it' or take a photo of whatever they are witnessing. Think of all the people taking pictures as they pass a car crash. Its an immediate "i must share this" reaction. Although clearly, walking down the street isn't going to get many youtube hits.

I spoke with the police earlier out of curiosity really to see what they thought. They actually took it very seriously and said it was boarding on harassment. Their advice if they do it again is to confront them but I'm not sure I would and I think it was a one off. The police said I could take a photo of them as long as I don't share it with anyone but the school and delete immediately afterwards. I must say I'm a bit uncomfortable with the idea but maybe if I was in the right place at the right time I might do it. The police assured me I had done the right thing and were very eager to speak to these girls and their parents.

I take photos of people all the time, I doubt many of them know,just this week I've done:
• A bike food courier in a suit
• A colleague (she definitely knows)
• 3 person mariachi band in a train station
• A man working a on the train (photos are actually of his £3K watch)
• A woman with a chanel bag (my dad and I can't believe there are so many a we play spot the fake)
• A woman hogging to seats on the tube, seemly a sleep
• Two station staff talking to a man stuck in lift through the glass

Sometimes it's to illustrate a story, other times it's because something is interesting about them, quite often it's because I like what they are wearing. Most only end up in the cloud, that's as online as they get. Some are published online either for my art or graphic courses from years ago or because the subject is breaking the law or being an arsehole.

OP you want to write to your MP saying we need a privacy law, that's going to be the easiest way to deal with this shit.
I don't think it will work but I didn't think we'd end up in this crazy world either!

Sorry OP but I just don't get it?

I don't get what has caused you such angst and stress and concern?

They filmed you and said 'it's outstanding'.... does that mean something different where you are???

How would a "privacy law" even work?
CCTV is everywhere including on people's homes
Art student don't have the resources for licenses, studios, models etc
When you take a photo of you kid and I happen to walk passed into shot, can I have you arrested?
What about when someone takes a shot of that includes tonnes of people can they all press charges if they are identifiable?