Being Seen Without Consent in a Digital World
As the prompt started, "Everyone has the right to take pictures and make videos in public places" and I'll share my view from that sentence because I think it's okay for people to take pictures or videos whenever they want to. Where it's not okay is when someone does it with bad intention of taking photos of someone unaware.
Let's face it, we are in the digital and social media era, where almost every single thing, person, situation and even animals are used for content. It has slowly become a lifestyle for many, the few who is yet to get involved are the ones who would find it somewhat to see their faces in a public photos or videos and feel so bad about it.
I'm thinking it from the angle that they've got the right to use their cameras wherever they want to, so long it's with good intention. I'm pretty sure a lot of photos of celebrities were taken unaware especially at the times they wouldn't have wanted to be on camera but they let it because they are popular and it's like a sign of love from their fans.
But for the regular passerby, random strangers or "not popular yet" people, it's a bit somewhat to be seen on a photo or video you're not aware of. But I think it depends on what photo or video, to make a big deal of it or not to. Personally, I won't have a serious issue with it except that I'll be bothered if my looks came out well or not lol.
I think this era of random photos and videos in public places calls us to conscious effort to be more self-aware, mindful and intentional about the places we find ourselves. If you're at the right places you're supposed to be, a random shot of you won't hurt, I believe. Same for being at the wrong place at times of random shots, too bad.
Should there be a law making such a thing criminal? I'll say NO for a few reasons I can think of now. First is, it's not criminal until the shot is taken with wrong or bad intentions. And there's hardly a way to find that out so how exactly should one be convicted of a crime that can't be traced, except there's an history of same actions.
The second reason is, it will affect people who are genuinely trying to capture the real world out there to share on social media for people to remember how much we have when we are not doomscrolling or spending all day indoors. Those random, unaware, unplanned shots have helped us seen more about the world than we'd have.
One more reason is, the person being taken unaware can be just anyone. Personally, I won't have issues with it so long it isn't actually about me. If I am the focus in a video, I'd have to know about it before it is shared. If I am not aware, then I'll have issues with it. Aside that, it's fine to see one's face in a very random and public shot.
Image used is AI generated.
Posted Using INLEO
Yes, everyone has the right to take pictures because it's there phone but if taking my pictures for bad intentions that one I won't tolerate it. And also I know we are have preferences but to me I don't like seeing my picture in someone else's phone without my consent I don't like it. But I can stop them for taking pictures that's why whenever I see people snapping I always go far away so that I won't show. The only time you will see my pictures on someone else's phone is because I give them the right to take or snap my pictures.
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This is a really hot topic at the minute. It was bad enough when lots of content including peoples faces found their way onto the internet and only a small few nefarious 'black hats' used the imagery for their own gains, but now with the advent of AI and all that it is capable of it only makes your topic of discussion more important than ever, especially in the realms of personal privacy.
AI running rampant across the internet hoovering up every image of you it can find, taken by yourself, friends or anyone else, the possibilities are endless with what it can do with the data and quite a few are a bit shady..
I think there is a genuine case here for the need for Laws and Legislation to catch up to the speed that Technology and AI is evolving at, with rules about public space and so on, presently they are lagging behind on every single perspective!
Great post, thought provoking stuff! :)
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Everyone has the right to take pictures in public but it's not okay when done with bad intention."
That's the key line. The right to take photos doesn't mean the right to use them however you want. Consent matters, especially when the person doesn't know they're being captured.
In Ghana, we see this a lot,people filming strangers without asking, posting them online for laughs. It's not always malicious, but it still feels wrong to the person who didn't agree.
The celebrity angle is interesting. They tolerate it because it's part of fame, but that doesn't mean they're always comfortable with it.
Do you think consent laws will ever catch up with the digital age, or is it too late?
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