Should they be using my picture?

[TatoTurner]

Last year I worked for a company which lost its funding and made most staff redundant (including me.)

Before I left they took some pictures of all staff for the website etc.

They are now posting these pictures (including many now-redundant people) on social media with posts along the lines of 'look how far we've come this year' etc.

I don't think I would bother to raise it with them, but it does irritate me every time I see it as essentially they are implying that they have grown so much in such a short time. The reality is that they massively overstretched themselves before they were ready, and put a lot of people out of work as a result.

Just curious as to how other people would feel about this. They own the pictures, I just feel it's deceptive and feel a bit used.

It depends if you signed a waiver allowing the use of your image in perpetuity. Even if you did you can exercise your right to be forgotten and they'll have to remove your image from anything digital and stop using it in the future.

I'm sure they have a right to use it, but that would really annoy me.

I would reply to the image on their social media saying you're not sure why they are using it as they fired you? I feel like that would make them take it down pretty sharpish!

I'd be telling them to take it down, or were they going to offer me my job back.

Tell them they owe you wages for the last twelve months

I looked into this recently for my company. They should have provided you with a consent form to sign, including where the image will be stored, how long it will be online etc, due to GDPR.

You can withdraw your consent for your image to be used at any time under GDPR. I would do it (unless you need to keep them sweet for a reference). It would annoy me too!

Nothing was signed.

I wouldn't mind so much if it was the team shot on the website, it's the 'look how much we've grown' comment that bugs me.

Just comment in the picture saying what you've just said?

They've hardly frown if they've made all the people in the photo redundant? 😂

I'd keep it very polite but withdraw consent e.g. "I noticed you're still using my photograph in X and Y adverts as though I'm a current staff member. I'm sure it's a simple oversight, because other ex staff members such as A, B and C were also included. As I now work elsewhere I am unable to officially respresent your company and it could be rather awkward to explain to clients. I therefore withdraw my consent for you to use any photograph of me in any of your public or internal communications. Please let me know when you have removed the photographs from your advertising. I look forward to hearing from you soon."

Withdraw your consent.

I'd really want to comment on the photo (whether I'd be brave enough or not is another issue). Something like, more like look how much you've shrunk, as you made x amount of people in this photo redundant #fakenews

I’d ask them to remove it. They don’t have your permission to use it by the sound of it, and even if they did you can withdraw consent at any time as a PP said.

They’ll just delete or hide and comments you make. If you request they take it down that will be much more of an arse for them.

Send them a message saying you withdraw your consent. And maybe tag all the fired employees who appear in the photo and make them aware of it so they can decide what to do too.

Thing is the marketing people who have used the photo most likely have no idea who you are or that you've left, unless you work in a very small company. So it's not a slight, just bad image management practice.

One of the good things to come from GDPR is that you need to sign something to agree to using your photo (at least we did at my company) so just because they own the photo it doesn’t mean they have the right to use the photo.
I would call them and tell them to stop using your photo

* Something like, more like look how much you've shrunk, as you made x amount of people in this photo redundant #fakenews*

Please do this!