Long lost friend has taken a photo of my house and posted it on Instagram

[instapaints]

Last week, a friend (whom I've not seen in nearly 2 years) texted me that she was in the area and asked we could meet to 'catch up on old times'. I unfortunately wasn't free and she told me that she could just stop by my place for a quick coffee. Fine. An hour of good conversation later, and she brought out essential oils for me to try out and possibly buy! Bit odd, but I declined and we parted ways.

Today, I decided to look her up on Instagram for some reason and saw photos of my living room and kitchen with the caption 'new furniture!' The hashtags were all related to the oils she was selling, with the bottles being in the picture too so it looked like some sort of ad? I've messaged her about this but she hasn't replied yet.

Is there something I can do to get these pictures taken down?

GorgonzolaTombola

You’re right, but unless it is specifically used in advertising/soliciting business I don’t know that it would fly as a legal complaint. “Lifestyle brands” are a bit of a funny case, aren’t they?

Have you posted under the photos OP? You really need to do that, before they get taken down.

It’s possible OP, that she only met up with you to try and sell you some of the crap she’s pedalling.

I would definitely comment under the pictures!

@thejollyroger you’re claiming it’s legal so what law are YOU referring to?

Laws don’t make things legal. Things are legal unless there is a law saying they’re not.

Privacy laws. Look them up.

I could google that and be none the wiser as to which law you actually think you are referring to. Which one or ones?

If the photographer is on public property, she can take a photo of a private property (outside of house from pavement). She can’t go inside someone’s house and photograph their living room without permission, lol.

Well, no, I don’t think someone can break into your home. I just don’t know what law prevents them taking a photograph inside your house. Can you enlighten me?

I'd make a fuss about it with the mlm company too. This is so not on!

YABU expecting the MLM company to give a shiny shit about what one of their sales reps is posting. They aren't interested as long as the money keeps rolling in. Their reps (not business owners) are encouraged to promote the fake lifestyle to keep other people interested and get them signed up too.

It’s possible OP, that she only met up with you to try and sell you some of the crap she’s pedalling.

Only "possible"? I'd say that's exactly what she did. Page one of MLM training. Contact everyone.

I would go to all lengths to have them removed from Insta, mostly not because she's done it on the sly on a grand CF scale but because she is using it to perpetuate a deceit/fraud pertaining to her own fictitious success which could in turn sucker more vulnerable less savvy women in.

@PineappleDanish I was trying to put it kindly!

It’s possible OP, that she only met up with you to try and sell you some of the crap she’s pedalling.

That’s exactly what they’re brainwashed to do: make a list of everyone they know and target them accordingly. Catching up with people they’ve not seen for a while for you le time’s sake is all about recruitment and not rekindling a friendship.

“for old time’s sake” - sausage fingers!

That's so odd.

Could you leave a message:

"Why have you posted photos of my house? And please stop trying to sell me your crappy oils.'

Doesn't sound like much of a friend to miss going forwards.

she's probably blocked you now so you can't call her out publicly.

That’s really weird. I wouldn’t even know where to start with what to do

@thejollyroger. I did. If you can’t be arsed to google and educate yourself, why should I google and send you direct links? I don’t need to prove anything to you. Just trying to correct your misperception. But hey ho, keep spewing that and have people roll their eyes at you in RL

Whilst there is nothing stopping someone who is in your house taking a photo of your living room (apart from the weirdness factor)

I am no legal person but I suspect that there is a law that should stop someone from using the image as an advertisement without the home owners permission.

Your place has been used as an advert to market selling these oils.
I would be extremely angry.

I would find out how much the going rate for a photo shoot of your house is and comment on the photo that the bill for the use of your house is in the post and I would send her the bill.

I can’t believe anyone would do such a thing. It is weird and bizarre and strikes me that she has taken leave of her senses.

LazyDaisey

I don’t care whether you do or don’t. I already know there’s no such law (preventing them actually taking the photograph).

@thejollyroger it's usually a third party who wants to see the form so they're covering themselves. Unless someone is making significant amounts a legal complaint would be pointless.

I personally wouldn't care about this as long as someone asked me. This woman either didn't ask because she is a CF or embarrassed.

She's finally replied to my texts saying that she forgot to tag me and that she was actually complimenting my furniture. I seriously don't believe her especially considering the fact that all her hashtags alluded to hard work, achievements, 'the hustle', and the oils. She has also said that she could take it down if I'd like. I said yes, checked her page, and my account is now blocked but the pictures are apparently still up when I viewed her (public) feed whilst logged out???

That's really bad. Obviously a MLM and cheeky to boot and I'd do as someone else says - take a screenshot as LazyDaisey says and shame her by posting this all over social media saying what she's done.

Can you contact her in the meantime to ask her to take it down before you do the above?

I am no legal person but I suspect that there is a law that should stop someone from using the image as an advertisement without the home owners permission.

There may be, but the tricky bit here would be (presumably) proving the post is an advert.

Reply again saying you’re not an idiot and you can see she’s still got the pics up.

So nosey to see it, checked the doterra tagged photos and can’t see anything that sounds like those photos!

I often find that the kinds of friends who are MLM bots or trying to recruit you to sell MLM or sell you their 'business idea' are often a bit desperate and will stop at nothing to champion their cause.

Depends if you want to call her out via your other friends about what she's done. Lots of 'normal' people have got suckered into MLM stuff though and a few have stopped and been a bit embarrassed by how they badgered friends and family to buy their MLM rubbish.

Okay the photos are down but now my WhatsApp messages are stuck on one tick. That means I'm blocked there too now, right? Really disproportionately irritated and I don't even know why.

Outrageous - send her a bill for use of your images and time for photoshoot!

Not OP's images though, as "friend" took the photos.
She's a massive cheeky fucker weirdo though, why would you take photos of someone else's house and pass them off as your own?!
Actually, don't answer that - I think a pp has got it and if your furniture and house is lovely she's pretending selling the oils have paid for it or something!
Definitely needs calling out on it. Not sure if there's anything IG would do though, as they're not actually images of you?