Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Regarding photos in public places

59 replies

WallyHilloughby · 09/03/2026 08:16

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?

OP posts:
muggart · 09/03/2026 11:30

Yes this happens all the time. Only the other day I saw pictures of me and my children on a business’s instagram page which came up on my feed. We had been to a birthday party and the business in question had provided the entertainment, and then proceeded to photograph us and use the pictures as advertising, targeting people from the area on instagram.

Shithotlawyer · 09/03/2026 11:44

I understand the fear of being tracked down and the need to safeguard children. The additional stress of not being able to control your privacy must be huge OP. I feel for you.

I guess it must be most likely to be dangerous in situations where people have simply left their abusive partner, but have not done a full relocation, supported by police, to another region or county. This must be far the most likely situation that happens most often. OP is right, there are ways they could be tracked down by public images.

For example even if I had my children move school but my ex knew the family were still in the area, and was an unhinged nutter trying to track me down, it's not beyond belief that he might sit at his computer and search all social media of recent local events suitable for families and children of the age of our kids during the weekend or holiday - lights switching on, village funfairs, new attractions opening. It's still kind of unlikely he would find us that way but it would add massive fear to the victim's life.

I do think local businesses could be asked to share non identifiable pictures only. You can show the happy crowd at your fireworks or the audience at the dog show with a little blur on the lenses. That wouldn't hurt. Many businesses are already recognising they shouldn't show loads of identifiable images of children and voluntarily adding blur or stickers.

In the future AI image searches will get even better so people will be able to purchase software that scrapes all public video and matches it to a picture of someone you want to find. It is scary.

OneTealTurtle · 09/03/2026 12:15

WallyHilloughby · 09/03/2026 10:51

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

No. This really isn’t necessary.

WiddlinDiddlin · 09/03/2026 13:03

I understand there are venues/events that live stream a dancefloor or similar focal point, there are also live streaming webcams for various places, landmarks etc (theres one at the most southerly point of the US which is fun to watch in storms as people rush out close to waves to get a photo!)...

But for some abuser to be watching these cams and live streams, they would need to know where/when you'd be there in order to find you.

Otherwise its not just 'needle in a haystack' but more like 1 needle in thousands of haystacks. You think abusers are checking every possible live streaming cam and venue in a particular county, or country? That would be impossible.

You could just email/call a venue before you attend an event to find out if they're live streaming it and where the cameras are and then decide if you want to go?

In any case, inside a venue is not a public place, so changing the law on photos/videos in a public place would make absolutely no odds (not that it'd be possible or even advisable).

Mixerfixer · 09/03/2026 13:10

Unfenced · 09/03/2026 08:34

Well, they have the option of not attending events that livestream audiences?

You don't always know that an event is being live streamed, they don't always tell you .

Mixerfixer · 09/03/2026 13:11

OneTealTurtle · 09/03/2026 12:15

No. This really isn’t necessary.

It really is!!

Mixerfixer · 09/03/2026 13:13

OneTealTurtle · 09/03/2026 08:51

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.

People can be more considerate

Mixerfixer · 09/03/2026 13:16

ColdAsAWitches · 09/03/2026 09:24

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.

Local village Remebrance day ceremony, entrance to beach area, many streets in big towns.

ColdAsAWitches · 09/03/2026 13:34

Mixerfixer · 09/03/2026 13:16

Local village Remebrance day ceremony, entrance to beach area, many streets in big towns.

But her OP referred to establishments/businesses. Which are very different.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread