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Original poster

I'm so upset - I've been Facebook shamed!

240 replies

Whatsthis1515 · 21/04/2020 19:31

We don't have much outside space, so I took my 3 youngest (8, 6 and 5) to the park to ride their bikes. The park is about a 10 minute walk away but we had to drive because my 8 year old has a broken leg (in a cast). We parked in the park's car park. There was no one there apart from us. The kids started biking on the grass but then they decided to bike round the carpark - smooth tarmac, so great to get their confidence up.

Anyway, after 30 mins we put the bikes back in the car and drove home.

I have just seen on our local Facebook group that someone has posted a short video clip of us (filmed from a distance, assuming from someone's bedroom window) and said 'Due to covidiots like his continuing to drive to our village to use our park, we are locking the gates to discourage it. If anyone knows these people please let them know we've got them on film!'.

I am mortified. The post has had about 20 likes, but a few people are saying that parks are open so they don't see the problem and that the government have specifically told councils to leave parks open.

Did I do anything wrong? I'm really shy so don't plan on responding to the post but I only drove there due to my daughter's broken leg, and secondly, we didn't see anyone and thirdly, now the park is not accessable to us because there is nowhere safe to park near it. We have now lost the use of our local park Sad I just don't understand

OP posts:
OneForMeToo · 21/04/2020 21:40

It’s not an issue at all to record anything in a public place. You cannot and do not expect privacy walking down your street. In your garden sure, in your house yes. In a public rest room again yes. A public park or playing field nope. It may not sit nicely but no laws have been broken.

JediJim · 21/04/2020 21:40

I hate this social media world we have sometimes. Filming people without their knowledge or permission. Especially children.
I saw a YouTube video of a Police Officer being filmed. His sergeant then got involved, got his phone out and started to film the person filming. The person filming seemed a little baffled!
The original police officer was just doing his job, probably didn’t appreciate an iPhone pointed at his face !

careworkerandproud · 21/04/2020 21:41

If you posted link, all us mumsnet could stand up for you!

HavenDilemma · 21/04/2020 21:41

@OneForMeToo Unfortunately that doesn't apply to children. It is unlawful to film children without consent and then publish online

OneForMeToo · 21/04/2020 21:43

Could you show me where it differentiates in law? I’ve not seen that just that in a public place it is not a criminal offence to record or take photos within a public place such as park or field.

HavenDilemma · 21/04/2020 21:43

@careworkerandproud If you posted link, all us mumsnet could stand up for you!

THIS! Please do this OP, please post the link to it!

LoveIslandVirgin · 21/04/2020 21:44

No time for shyness, stand up to these bullies. You are of course entitled/obliged to keep your family safe and have an absolute reason to do that - a temporary disability meant you had to go somewhere away from traffic for your DC to exercise.

You haven’t been shamed, the egg is on the face of the dick who has self appointed him/herself as judge, jury and executioner.

Don’t even attempt to defend yourself, you did nothing wrong.

Weregoingonanadventure · 21/04/2020 21:44

@HavenDilemma
No it isnt. If you are in a public place then you can be filmed and it can be posted anywhere.

Are you saying that all news reports with children walking past are unlawful? No. Of course not.

You can film in public. You can film children in public.

caffeinefix · 21/04/2020 21:45

Busy bodies. This pandemic is bringing the worst in people.

HavenDilemma · 21/04/2020 21:48

@LoveIslandVirgin Don’t even attempt to defend yourself, you did nothing wrong.

I COMPLETELY disagree with this. If you don't correct these idiots, then they go on believing they were absolutely right and will continue the behaviour. Probably going even further next time. Whereas you correct (& humiliate) them, they almost certainly will think twice next time before jumping to conclusions and not getting the facts before shaming.

HavenDilemma · 21/04/2020 21:51

@Weregoingonanadventure The point you seem to be missing, is intent. a

A news report is not there to film children. A person filming another person with kids in the background, is not intending to film the children.

A person filming children playing INTENTIONALLY is unlawful. It is classed as voyeurism.

Chickpeees · 21/04/2020 21:52

Filming in a public space is not illegal.

CaroleFuckinBaskin · 21/04/2020 21:52

Yeah you have to make these people look like total mugs - politely and calmly state that the people in the video are you and your family, you live in the village and haven't broken any rules and that you would kindly ask that people didn't secretly film your children and post the videos online.

Keep it cool, let them make dickheads of themselves.

AllForAnEasyLife · 21/04/2020 21:53

I would be mortified too but I did see something worse on my local facebook group yesterday.....

Somebody posted a video of a car pulling up near her property (gates looked like big farm gates) and he threw rubbish out of his car window. She got very close up to his reg plate so everyone could see it and he then got out of his car and weed against the gates. She zoomed right in on his dick so everyone could see it. There were lots of comments about him having a small one on the posts etc

Weregoingonanadventure · 21/04/2020 21:54

There is no law against photographing orfilming children, provided the images are decent in nature. It is still wise to obtain permission,

@HavenDilemma
No it isnt. You are wrong. It is not illegal to film people, child or otherwise, in a public place. This has been covered many times.
If you have a law which says otherwise, then link it here and I will eat my words.

HavenDilemma · 21/04/2020 21:54

*a person covertly filming children I meantUsing a kindle with an awful keyboard!

JediJim · 21/04/2020 21:55

OP, legal or not I’d make a police report. I’d do it online and get a CAD number. This would be officially logged and you will get a response. Legal or not the Police can advise you. Include the persons name on Facebook. You are perfectly entitled to report them to the authorities, let them decide what to do next. They may be known to the Police for all you know, and have a history of filming children. Unlikely, but you never know.
Facebook should remove as people have already said.

trixiebelden77 · 21/04/2020 21:55

I’d post and ask what is the FB group’s policy on the covert filming, and sharing images online, of children not related to the person filming as it raises safeguarding concerns.

Phifedean123 · 21/04/2020 21:56

I can be pretty shy too but if someone secretly filmed my child and posted it to social media without my permission then my lid would absolutely flip off like there was no tomorrow. I would do as pp suggested though and inform them that it is you and your children, explain what you said in your OP and ask them why they think it's okay to film children in a park. Honestly some people have lost all sense completely

Weregoingonanadventure · 21/04/2020 21:56

Its wise to gain permission incase anyone has any sort of protection order or something, but that's just a "nice thing to do". You do not need permission.

Original poster
Whatsthis1515 · 21/04/2020 21:57

Wow, thank you so much for all the support (and ideas for my daughter's sore hands! They are actually blistered now). She broke her leg roller-skating on our daily exercise the first week of lockdown. Literally couldn't make it up. If I didn't laugh I would cry....

I'm so glad I did respond on the post because the old git who tried to shame me has had it thrown right back in his face. Lots of local parents have been on and stood up for me! I haven't responded again as don't want to get into a big debate but I have 'liked' the comments. As for the twat who tried to shame me, he said that our visit was the 'final straw', as there has been a 'constant stream' of visitors, but had he realised I was local, he would of course not reacted in that way..... No apology though....Several people who live by the park said they've never seen many people there and other people said what is the problem with people coming to the park anyway if they don't have a garden!

The post has now been turned off for commenting but I've made contact with admin to ask for it to be removed now.

So a good result. Thanks so much for the support. So glad I did it

OP posts:
CallMeRachel · 21/04/2020 21:57

@OneForMeToo

It's an offence to publish images without permission.

You can film anyone in a public place, that's not the issue. The issue is, the images have been distributed for naming and shaming purposes and that's wrong.

ThanosSavedMe · 21/04/2020 21:58

Well done for saying something @Whatsthis1515 hope you get an apology but I doubt it.

I would probably go back on and say ‘the word your looking for is sorry’ but I’m an arsey cow!

HavenDilemma · 21/04/2020 21:58

@Weregoingonanadventure I do actually! But I cannot do Copy and paste on this stupid kindle. The issue lies in the use of the video.

After all, if it was lawful, you'd have paedophiles blatantly standing outside Schools and swimming pool windows, filming away! Sorry to be crude.

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