Regarding photos in public places

[WallyHilloughby]

Yes we know it’s legal but does anyone else think it’s pretty concerning that someone who has had to relocate due to severe domestic abuse may have to limit their movements therefore their life as many establishments/ businesses will take photos /videos of them without their consent therefore endangering the safety of them/their kids?

I am currently sitting in an airport on my way home from an event in the US. There were signs at every entrance saying your image may be captured and broadcast - if you walked past someone being interviewed in the corridor, or were in the audience for a live streamed session.

The number of people affected by this is small.

It’s life. Life isn’t fair. We can’t stop having CCTV or allowing people to take photos/videos just because a minority of people are escaping abusive situations.

Disguise?! But yes, above poster is correct, we cannot stop this happening for the tinniest of minority cases.

So many responses on here show an absolute blinkered attitude to the safety of women and children and you really can see who has been lucky enough to not have to think about this before

as for people saying ‘don’t go places where things will be live streamed’ that’s my whole point. If people aren’t made aware it’s happening how can they choose?

Do you know how many women are killed at the hands of their ex partners? Do you know that the most dangerous time for a woman in an abusive relationship is when she’s left?

Yes! This sort of thing as well where you can even hear people’s conversations!

If it's a live stream and the abuser spots the victim... then they already knew they were there or were extremely likely to be there. They haven't stumbled upon it by chance.

Nobody is blinkered to the dangers... but the world cannot stop evolving at the hands of a minority.

I don’t think I’ve ever been to an event which was live-streamed apart from my dad’s funeral.

could you advise those of us who don’t attend these sort of events what type of thing this is?

You do realise many smaller venues do this without asking permission or even letting customers know?

I do!
Not in my local Costa though, or the local tiny Italian restaurant. Or curry house.

I understand the concern, but don’t think it needs to prevent any and all outings. Just needs careful consideration of the venues.

But you still haven't really given an example of what events you are talking about. So people can't really engage because we sdon't know what you mean. "Events that are live streamed" could be anything. Could you please give a concrete example of the sort of place that you think is a safety risk.

To those saying they have never been to an event that was live streamed you probably wouldn't know. It will be done by one person with a mobile phone and just look like someone videoing. For example my village christmas lights switch on is always live streamed, so is the duck race. Go onto facebook and search livestreams, I think you will be surprised.

Lectures and talks are streamed all the time.

If I had relocated due to domestic violence and was terrified of being identified, I would probably avoid village events like ‘turning on the lights’ if I thought it was going to be put on Facebook.

It would have to someone with a good idea of where you lived to start following every little local group though.

I was always under the impression that a large proportion of these poor women were often moved out of the town and away from the abuser. So how would the abuser know which nightclub/pub to look at their socials?

While am afraid you can't stop photography and live streaming I do think the UK is just rubbish at taking abuse seriously.

And that’s the thing. People are unable to enjoy a normal life through no fault of their own because of this obsession with photographing and filming absolutely everything

Right, so thousands of people around the world can’t watch live sessions from a comic con, or a sports conference, or a genealogy conference, or whatever just because a hypothetical someone might be spotted? Nah.

No, I’d say people who are trying to hide their identify should probably be careful going to large events that are going to be filmed. This doesn’t stop you from living your everyday life.

Every time I’ve been to an event recently, the promo or booking page has clearly stated that there will be filming and photography and to inform the organisers if you want to make sure you don’t appear so they can seat you somewhere suitable or not post anything you appear in. I imagined it was pretty standard.

This hypothetical “someone” probably doesn’t read the small print.

I've relocated due to domestic abuse and I don't spend my life in hiding, I still go out to the normal places that I would, including events where I've been notified that filming and photography takes place. The likelihood of exP happening to view a photo that I happened to be in, and even recognising my face in the blurry crowd is unfeasibly low (I look very different to how I looked when I left him), and even if he did, it would only tell him that I was there on that day, and most of the videos and photos are released after the event, so he wouldn't be able to find me there. Even for a live event, it's extremely unlikely that he'd be be able to suddenly travel there and find me before it ended.

People are allowed to enjoy watching an event they can’t attend in person though?

No but people should always be informed so they can make that choice to safeguard themselves