Filming Without Knowledge Or Consent

[musicmummy]

is it illeagal in the uk to film someone without their knowledge or consent. then if shown to others does this break the data protection law? K.

[RATTER15]

No I doubt it, think of a TV crew filming large crowds of people and then putting it on TV. Its done legally all the time, every time you use a video camera on the beach for instance.

[factor-fiction]

I doubt it very much. When I take my holiday photos for example there are usually people in the background.

[Sharingan]

No not usually.

[thejudderman]

If it is illegal an awfull lot of people could be in trouble if youtube was mentioned to the data protection police!

[musicmummy]

hi ratter 15, the person filmed from their house onto the street deliberately aimed at someone. K.

[237SJ]

I don`t know if it`s illegal but it wouldn`t be breaking the data protection act. There is no data involved (names, addresses, date of birth etc).

[factor-fiction]

There are restrictions though- for example you can't film in some sports centres in case children are present

[Sharingan]

In that case definitely not musicmummy.

[musicmummy]

OK THANKS ALL k X

[RATTER15]

No law against it as far as im aware.

[237SJ]

There are probably rules in certain workplaces. People are not allowed to film in my place of work without asking the Press Office and Security (who would both say No). I can`t imagine there are any restrictions in the street though.

[Richard1966]

The Data Protection Act deals with how organisations hold and share "sensitive" information. This includes religion, sexuality, political allegiance etc. Its arguable if a name or address is actually sensitive, but bank account details or date of birth and NI Number would be as these could be used to clone someones identity. A picture or video of someone does not constitute sensitive information, unless it also reveals something that could be seem as sensitive under the act.

[FredPuli43]

Can't see how it could be illegal, as a crime, in normal circumstances, or give rise to a claim for copyright, come to that, if the person is in a public place and the pictures are not being posed as a work of art; it's not as though the film maker was making a film with the person as an actor or model in it.It's not unusual for anyone with a camera to focus on one passer-by out of several going down a street.

[237SJ]

Richard - as far as the Data Protection Act is concerned, it`s not just sensitive information that is protected. Names, date of birth, addresses, ages etc (even which flight somebody is travelling on and their seat number) is covered under the Data Protection Act.

[sebhfhion]

Sometimes while watching TV documentaries certain members of the publics faces are blurred out, not all just some,so do the film makers have to ask permission to show members of the public in their film? This must be so otherwise either none would be blurred out or all of them. While watching a programme on the Air Ambulance the other night some members of the public were blurred out and some medical staff in the hospitals as well.

[Richard1966]

237SJ - I sit corrected. The DPA has guidance on the handling of all data but does have tighter controls on the "sensitive" elements.

The point about filming stands though.

[FredPuli43]

seb, the pictures are blurred out for various reasons:protecting children, security for individuals, sensitivity of certain people for medical or family reasons etc. Copyright or legality is not the reason, though it is curious that car numbers are often blurred. That may be to stop cloning of plates, but that seems unlikely

[Answerprancer]

Probably not illegal (artistic license?)
If I spot an unsolicited (video) camera pointing at me and I don't want it, I cover my face and give them the finger every time.

[FredPuli43]

Ah,AP , so it's you who is arriving at and leaving all those courts. Thought they looked familiar.

[Answerprancer]

..no comment!