To think any man would know this wasn’t acceptable.

[Mummytoswiftie25]

I took my DD to a movie with a few friends yesterday - it was a specific movie they had been waiting to see and so they went all out and dressed up in costumes.
we were waiting in the food court outside and the girls were mucking about hugging etc when a man approached us with his mobile phone out and lifted his phone up, I automatically went “ what are you doing “ and he proceeded to then ask us if it was ok to take a picture of any DD alone. I asked him if he had taken any other pictures and to move away. I called security over and asked to see the photos he has taken, he had taken a few of the girls playing around and then told security it was a mis understanding and they he just appreciated her costume, deleted the photos and they let him leave.

surely any man I would say 35-40 years old would know this to be wrong ?

What an absolute creep of a man - or a plain idiot. Glad you jumped in!

Not ok well done op

As convincing a line as the bloke that claimed he'd photographed my breastfeeding friend in the park (without her knowledge or consent) for the local paper. Which he couldn't name.

Yes.

El creepo indeed YANBU

Not sure the relevance but it wasn’t a revealing costume, child friendly.
he was on his own around 35-40 but would say more like 40.
spoke good English, didn’t seem confused and had a local accent ( very northern so we know it well ) wasn’t a misunderstanding.

He sounds like a prev to me. Did he delete the photos completely or just to his deleted photos file?

Totally out of order and so incredibly creepy. Fantastic you not only challenged this but alerted security too 👏

I saw something on the BBC last week about men filming and taking photos of inebriated young women during nights out and then uploading them to some website where it was a free for all with misogynistic comments.

So absolutely no excuse

I'm no these questions have any relevance AT ALL to justify photographing someone without their express consent?

I like the way you got him to delete the photos in front of you 🙌

This must have been so scary.

He's a nonce. Plain and simple.

What in the fuck. Paedo alert.

In a shopping centre food court you have some recourse because it's a legally private space so security guards can enforce that code of conduct.

In the general outside world you have no right not to be photographed or filmed. (Upskirting is now the exception, luckily, with a specific set of rules around it)

I wish people would just think for a moment about what it would mean if anyone could just refuse to be photographed in public places. What would happen to proper investigative journalism? You'd have people being thrown in prison for filming dodgy deals or crimes or trying to interview folks.

Morally yes it's hard to know why some bloke wants a pic of your daughter unless for nefarious reasons. But that's just part of life I'm afraid, paedos will take photos at beaches, high streets, concerts...I'd take care to ensure my child wasn't wearing inappropriately sexualised clothes, make all efforts to protect them from being abused or groomed, and then just crack on with my life.

Well I can't think of any reason why it isn't massively sinister. He should be barred from the cinema, the whole chain! Did you get a picture of him? You could contact head office and describe him if not, there must be cameras.

Yes it’s creepy but in a public place, anyone can take photos of anyone else unfortunately. But I think most people understand where the line is and he definitely crossed it.

Yes absolutely!
I take lots of pics of my dogs in the park and love taking pics of the flowers emerging. Yesterday there were some nursery aged kids playing in the park and they all looked so cute! I wanted to take a pic but of course didn't. Not that I was going to do anything weird with them but you just do not take photos of other peoples' children full stop.

I'd take care to ensure my child wasn't wearing inappropriately sexualised clothes, make all efforts to protect them from being abused or groomed, and then just crack on with my life.

//

Alternatively I'd loudly and publicly ask that person why the fuck they were photographing my child. Who knows maybe they would have a Very Good Reason and the worst thing that happens is I may look a bit of a Twat for challenging. Happy to take that chance.

Or maybe that individual is a nonce.

I'm within my rights to take that chance.

He wasn't doing anything illegal.

Her clothes were not sexualised in the slightest 🙈 she was wearing a dress with long sleeves that was less revealing that a school gingham dress !

he proceeded to then ask us if it was ok to take a picture of any DD alone. I asked him if he had taken any other pictures and to move away. I called security over and asked to see the photos he has taken

I think your approach was odd tbph.

Surely after he asked, the automatic response would be WHY? But it doesn't sound like you asked?

He could have said anything. I work for the local paper. I'm organising a similar meet soon and i'm looking for ideas. My daughter is coming to this event next month and I thought she'd like to see some examples of the costumes. 100 others.

Or, he could just be a dirty old paedo.

I can't understand why you wouldn't just ask why though and go from there.

The security guard needed to get him to delete them from the "recently deleted"photo file too. Otherwise he can retrieve them. Sorry op ☹️.

Surely as an ethical writer rather than asking to take more pictures you'd start by explaining why first, introduce yourself, maybe show press id than ask?

And there was still chance for him to do this in response to OPs question?

I think in light of the fact any random with a phone can take pictures of our kids and upload them onto a internet meat market for comment you should absolutely have to justify and prove your legit reasons