Taking pictures

[1099]

Can someone just tell whether this is correct or not. I've had a letter today from school about online security and some lessons they're intending to do. In the letter it says that taking someones picture without their permission is illegal, and it doesn't matter whether it's in or out of school.
I'm pretty sure this is incorrect and whilst I appreciate what they're trying to do/say, I don't think they should be telling kids things are illegal when they're not.

It is incorrect. Taking someone's photo where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy may be a breach of their right to privacy. Taking their photo in a public place is not generally illegal although GDPR may apply depending on how you intend to use the image.

Yes, I agree. Eg taking a picture in a street of J K Rowling's child in a push chair DID breach the law however so people need to be careful. So the BBC can publish pictures of a whole football crowd but google images has to pixilate out faces as they are next to an address and identify the person in a sense.

If you take a photo of a computer screen showing all the children in a class on line on zoom or teams that is very likely to be illegal so I think the school's warning is apt. Also they can set their own rules. Eg I have given a lot of talks and sometimes the organisers set up a rule - no recording or photos at all even if the law allows it so again the school could set up this rule eg the teacher might be having a bad hair day and does not want a picture of a child's computer screen taken whether put all over facebook or not.

I agree a school should be able to set their own rules with taking photos but the word 'illegal' should not be used unless it is illegal

'Against school rules'
'Not school policy'

Yes but not illegal unless it is illegal

Clearly it's not illegal - celebs would (presumably) not agree to unflattering photos being taken by paps if it were...

I would write back to the school and say "Did you know that talking bollocks is illegal?"