To be shocked to discover

[Junipercrumble]

Apparently, it is NOT illegal for a stranger to take photographs or video clips of people, including their children in a public place. 😵

I, like many of my friends are astonished if this is true.

I wonder how many people are aware of this?

WTAF!? The only person acting illegally there was the police officer. I do hope the photographer made a complaint and put in a civil claim against the police force in question.

No they dont!! Haven't you ever seen the videos of celebs being swarmed by paparazzi? You don't see a queue of them waiting to one by one ask "please Ms Jolie can I take your picture?"
What about all the ones clearly taken when the celeb was unaware e.g. celeb in unflattering pose on beach "x "proudly bares" her stretch marks"

There are specific vids because they take photos of celebs kids and get right up in their faces and upset them. There was a whole thing about this in the media last week because Kim kardashians kid was telling the paps to go away.

As pps have said, I don't know why you logically didn't work this out, presumably every time you've taken a photo of your kid at the beach or with their friends you didn't go and ask all their parents and everyone on the vicinity that it was OK?

How do you think things like cctv and speed cameras or ring doorbells etc are allowed to operate?

How would you discover this though? Anyone could claim they were photographing their own child/general park scene for a number of reasons, they have absolutely no obligation to show you their phone/camera and if you tried to grab it off them you'd be the only one committing a crime.

I was pleased that he intervened to be honest. I understand that we were in a public place, but I think close up pictures of only your child being taken by a complete stranger is off. I’m sure I’m not the only person who would feel uncomfortable about that - whatever the reason. I think, as a courtesy, asking the parent and explaining the images use should be a minimum when photographing a minor.

CCTV is not singling my child out and is for the purposes of crime prevention.

1. How do you know ?
2. are you sure ?

There are cases of CCTV operators being found spying on women. And these are the ones we know of ....

Also, I'd be curious as to how much crime CCTV ever prevents no one I know has ever seen an arrest from CCTV they supplied ... and the fact they are able to supply it tells you it was after a crime

How do you think things like cctv and speed cameras or ring doorbells etc are allowed to operate?

There are rules about those. You can't just let your cctv or ring door bell film people without their knowledge and you are not meant to film past your own boundary.

I agree.

Duh! How else can you take photos in public place such as a castle? Wait until there's no strangers in shot? What about filming your kids at the park?

Of course it’s not illegal. If people are in a public place where anyone around can see each other and CCTV is everywhere, wouldn’t you be acting accordingly and not displaying behaviour you wouldn’t want a stranger to see. One of my hobbies is photography. I enjoy various genres, including street photography. If I want to photograph someone who will notice, I ask if they are happy for me to do so. The only people who have ever declined were in the Middle East. Elsewhere everyone I have asked have been pleased. A couple of times when they were doing something special, I have taken their email address and emailed some shots to them (e.g. a woman who was just learning to use her skateboard). In addition though, I often take street photos where people are just going about their business and have no idea. These shots document life within a time and a culture. Those who have taken such shots over the ages have given us so much pleasure and information.

So yes, you are being unreasonable unless you come from a culture where you believe the camera can ‘steal the soul’!

If this had happened (it didn’t) the policeman should expect to be disciplined for breaking the law and abusing his authority.

What about all those Ring doorbell cameras? Taking pictures of innocent posties without their permission??

it’s not illegal in the US or Canada either. Teenagers get annoyed on the bus because I cover my daughters face when they’re snapping selfies but I don’t really care. Even if she’s just accidentally behind your seat I don’t want her face all over a strangers instagram.

So op are you seriously saying you have never in your life taken a photo in public that has random other people of all ages in?.

No, entirely normal. The minute you step out your door, you're public, with no image rights. Of course, if somebody touched or adjusted the childs clothing, that would come under other legislation.

I always assumed that was the case and aren't shocked. If you're in a public place with your children 😕

More to this ?, recently covered on youtube
Black belt barrister

Some of the situations on here could be remedied under Section 4A Public Order Act where:

‘Your actions have caused another person to feel harassed, alarmed, or distressed’

Obviously- how would tabloids work otherwise

@SortOfAdmireQuagmire I love how some people on mumsnet assume they know everything (they don’t). It was a small village type fete and the policeman was insistent that he was shown the images and the ones of DD were deleted. The photographer maybe deleted them himself, perhaps that’s why the policeman wasn’t acting outside of the law.
Genuine question - would other people not have been concerned that their child (and only their child was in the picture) was being photographed?

You have no expectation of privacy in public spaces so of course it’s not illegal.
It’s not right, but it’s not illegal.

Not particularly, though. My little ones have the most piercing blue eyes despite Mediterranean skin tones, I’d not be surprised at all of someone photographing them, nor bothered about it.

I don’t really even understand why others care. It just seems so precious and ludicrous. The photons that went into the camer weren’t ours, the reconstructed image of their face isn’t ours. It verges on a mental condition to me that someone would be upset about it.

Like others have said - no right to privacy in a public place. So by being in public, yes whoever can take pictures of whatever they want.

That doesn't mean it's normal or ok & if I saw someone taking photos of my kid they'd certainly get a mouthful from me, though like you have come to realise it's not a crime & I wouldn't be ringing the police expecting them to do anything.

I manage to take photos of my LG in public places without capturing other children. It can be done no matter how busy it is. My daughter is adopted, so safeguarding is a priority. I can’t have her picture plastered all over social media. I’ve seen patents take pictures and videos knowing that my daughter is in them and I’ve asked them politely to either delete or blur her out. They have always been understanding. Places where I take my daughter, swimming, sports, after school activities, birthday parties, they have a policy that photos are not taken unless permission is given. It’s not illegal but there are so many children that need safeguarding so hoping more parents reading this will just think twice about snapping away with other peoples kids.

I agree with this. There was an outcry in our village a few months back because the parish council put CCTV in the park and they thought pervert counsellors would he viewing it.

If people are wanting pictures/ videos for a sexual nature that's not how they go about getting them.

Is it mere coincidence that parent and paranoid begin with the same three letters?