Taking public photos/videos of people in a public place?

Soldato
Joined
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No restrictions, no expectation of privacy in a public place.

Sort of correct, albeit in the UK you can also legally be on public property but taking photos of/into private property. Of course this could be a moral issue and could fall under other crimes such as harassment but generally speaking you're fine.
 

Pez

Pez

Soldato
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20 Oct 2002
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Warwickshire
Sort of correct, albeit in the UK you can also legally be on public property but taking photos of/into private property. Of course this could be a moral issue and could fall under other crimes such as harassment but generally speaking you're fine.

Not really sure what you're getting at? :)
 
Soldato
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Well "no expectation of privacy in a public place" insinuates that the subject also needs to be in a public place, which is not correct.

It is in some countries like France, but not the UK.
 
Soldato
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Correct. Of course if you were questioned as to why you were doing it and you had no real reason, and/or the subject wanted to prosecute for harassment or restraining etc, then that would be valid but it's irrelevant to the photography element. You could equally just be watching them or using binoculars etc.

That's an extreme example remember. A shopping centre is private property, so technically a security guard could prevent you from taking photos inside but they can't stop you from taking photos of it or into it.

Most of the times this is done it's completely innocent and you wouldn't think twice. Press photographers probably take photos every day of people on private property; leaving courts, celeb weddings, etc etc.

That's why the Kate Middleton topless photo thing was interesting, they were in France and on private property so it was illegal aside from any moral/harassment etc issues.
 
Caporegime
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That suggests you can sit out on the street and use a telephoto lens straight into someone's bedroom without breaking any laws?

might be a grey area... but if say Kate Middleton was sunbathing topless on her estate and a paparazzi could spot her from a public place with a big zoom lens then he could get away with it
 
Caporegime
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28,851
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That suggests you can sit out on the street and use a telephoto lens straight into someone's bedroom without breaking any laws?

You'd probably be had up for voyeurism charges, but that probably wouldn't make a difference if you had a camera or not. The photos just provides more evidence. :p

Also worth noting the police cannot force you to delete any photos (or delete them themselves). If it's a crime then they would be tampering with evidence and if it wasn't they don't have any legal backing and it's just a request. As said though the police have finally started to be properly trained in this area.
 
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