Did you know that in the UK, it’s completely legal to take pictures of anyone for no particular reason, as long as the photos aren’t indecent?

[Anonymous]

I heard a story about a man who was walking around taking pictures of children. When the parents called the police, they were told that there was nothing the police could do, since he wasn’t breaking any laws—the photos weren’t indecent

Yes

No

[purplepoppy]

The law is designed to protect people taking innocent photos. Imagine trying to take a picture of your wife on the beach without getting other people in the shot or having to ask people to move out of the way so you can get a pic of Big Ben.

But just going up to some one and taking a picture could be construed as harassment, taking pictures of kids obviously has darker connotations. Like so many of these laws they're brought in with good intent but get abused by creeps who 'know their rights'

[Yoursweetgirl]

No, I didn't know. I'm not British but in my opinion that opens the door to many dangers.

People should start beating those "photographers" ass and the law will change quickly

[msc545]

Fortunately, for all of us, your opinion is in the minority to a huge extent. We don't beat people up for taking photos. Sorry.

[msc545]

It's also completely illegal to do that in the U. S. You can take pictures of anybody you want on the street, without permission. And there is nothing that they can legally do about it, unless you publish the pictures somewhere, or something of that nature.

[msc545]

I hate autocomplete. I meant to say it is completely legal in the US to take photos of people on the street or in public generally.

[Miristheiss]

Sort of.

I remember princes Di always battling the intrusive, tabloid press.

[slatyb]

That's true in the US, I didn't know about the UK. People need to get over this fear that anyone who looks at their child is going to follow them home and abduct them.

[Iron_Man]

What if you’re in college and you’re studying photojournalism and your job is to get pictures of random people out in the community that? That’s what my sister did of. adults and kids but it was totally professional

[Iron_Man]

That was a part of her class to get random pictures. She went to the university of Florida so she went to Walt Disney World and took pictures.

[Dargil]

As it should be. In case you get into a lather, remember the security cameras never asked permission.

[DrPepper12]

As it should be. If you're in public you need to create your own privacy.

[Asker]

Could have guessed you were a kiddy fiddler

[noohair]

I was standing inside my apartment with the door open. I was holding my phone like I was taking pictures. One woman called the Police on me. I really had fun talking with the police.

[TonyMetal___86]

I didn't knew, but why would someone photographs kids 🤔

[msc545]

Why not? How does it hurt the children or anybody else?

[TonyMetal___86]

@msc545 it doesn't hurt them but i'm asking why?
We all take photos of nature and people randomly but we don't focus on a kid and take picture of him and her cause why would i take a photo of a strange kid that i don't know 🤔

If it happens once, maybe it's okay, but to alqays go out ou there and only take photo of kids is creepy and abnormal!

[msc545]

Actually, a significant number of people are interested in child photography and make a profession out of it because parents of course love to have attractive photos of their children. I don't personally photograph children because I don't want the blowback from parents and other adults and I'm not really interested in child photography but more in nature and animal photography. However, my daughter when she was very young, was extremely attractive child and attracted the attention of many child photographers who wanted to photograph her and would ask my permission. I would tell them to ask her permission, not mine even when she was a young child and most of them would do so and have an interesting conversation with her before photographing her or if she said no, not photographing her. It was a neat way to help her understand how to speak with adults appropriately.

[msc545]

Photography is not a crime and people who engage in photography are not your enemy and are not child molesters. They are simply people with an interest in humanity.

[TonyMetal___86]

@msc545 agreed but not all of them...

[msc545]

Do you really know that for certain or is that just something you're assuming for some reason?

[TonyMetal___86]

@msc545 nope i have watched too many creeps and pervs using photography for sinister reasons

[msc545]

How can you tell that they were using the photography for as you put it sinister purposes?

[TonyMetal___86]

@msc545 watched documentaries about such people on the I. D channel and real life stories on the net where the criminal was a photographer and used photography to get closer to kids...

[msc545]

Do you believe everything you read and watch on the internet?

[TonyMetal___86]

@msc545 nope but on t. v it's real cases and i googled some and they were real, the I. D channel means investigation discovery, they don't air fake cases!

[msc545]

sure... ok

[blackeagle007]

It’s the same in the states. If your on public land, take whatever picture you want.

[Anonymous]

That's what mass surveillance and legalisation of CP/CSA/CR will get you