Petition the UK Government against mandatory ID to take photos ?
Posted by: andrew in Photographing
The government seem to be getting a lot of ePetitions up lately, now some, such as the Helping Hand or the Gold petitions are a bit bogus and obviously just drawing in the crowds, but there’s another one up that looks in a similar vein to the car tax one. I’m predicting some righteous indignation and pitchfork-waving, or worse still.. flashguns at dawn..
Apparently, although I’ve not seen any legislation yet that there are a number of moves promoting the requirement of ‘ID’ cards to allow photographers to operate in a public place. It is a fundamental right of a UK citizen to use a camera in a public place (except swimming baths, playgrounds and other places you shouldn’t be pointing cameras at people – thanks Jim!), indeed there is no right to privacy when in a public place. These moves have developed from paranoia and only promote suspicion towards genuine people following their hobby or profession.
It sounds very much like a response and formalisation of the experiences that we so frequently hear about – run-ins with security guards, prevented from taking pictures of public places.
There are some obvious questions that spring to mind which cannot be answered without further details of this legislation. If this is true.. is there a restriction on the size/type of camera or lens (i.e. not just “big” dSLR cameras, what about a compact or mobile phone?) What happens to tourists? if you’re in the UK on holiday, and have your camera with you? What punishment could they legally dish out ? deletion of images? Confiscation of equipment? Fine? Imprisonment?!
I guess the thing is that we can’t take the risk.. sign up and pass it on…
Technorati Tags: epetition, government, id cards, photography, public places
Entries (RSS)
Entries (RSS)
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:22 am
“It is a fundamental right of a UK citizen to use a camera in a public place”
Does that include the playground and the public swimming baths?
:-/
February 23rd, 2007 at 8:00 am
yeah, noted.. I was quoting there from another site on the fundamental right… but.. some places where photography of people you don’t know / have permission of / just shouldn’t be taking photos in etc is probably the exception to the rule… but its more not being able to take a photo in a public place of something in the public domain..