Topic: Street photographers, know your rights!

[Nigel]

An article from Japan Camera Hunter : Street photographers, know your rights!
http://japancamerahunter.com/2013/02/street-photographers-know-your-rights/


"There is a worrying amount of news about photographers being stopped illegally for taking pictures, being unlawfully searched and detained and harassed. I thought it might be helpful for us to build a resource for the laws in different countries.

Recently I have been seeing people who have details about the law in their bags, as it seems that in some countries the public perception of photographers has shifted somewhat. There are a lot of reports coming from various parts of the world of photographers being accosted by the law (or overblown security guards). I have even had it in the UK, being told that I would be arrested if I continued to take photos in a shopping mall, as it is private property.

Obviously there are some things that you cannot take pictures of (like the secret military installation I tried to get pictures of in Kazakhstan). But walking down the street and in the general public should not be a cause for harassment.What I have decided to do is compile a list for you for different countries on the laws and your rights.

This is not even close to a complete list but it is a work in progress. Feel free to add your country or any information that you have in the comments section.

If you have a link that is pertinent I shall add it to the piece as it progresses. This is intended not just to be a reference resource for residents but visitors of the countries too.

Australia http://www.artslaw.com.au/images/uploads/Street_photographers_rights.pdf

Canada http://ambientlight.ca/laws/

Japan http://tonymcnicol.com/2009/01/26/photography-in-japan-what-are-your-rights/ I am looking for more detailed info for Japan if someone has it.

Singapore (some details in this forum piece) http://www.reddotphoto.com.sg/forums/showthread.php/370-Legal-Issues-on-Photography-in-Public-and-Private-Places-in-Singapore

The United Kingdom www.the-aop.org/download/14106 (direct PDF download of bust card) It seems that photographernotaterrorist.org has been shut down.

The USA http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf Need more info about state laws and federal laws.

I would really like to have all of your help and input of this so that we can build a complete resource for as many countries as possible. The more we know the more we can protect ourselves and keep on shooting without harassment."

[jojonas~]

Sweden http://www.sfoto.se/Tio-fragor-om-lag-och-ratt
only in swedish though

[Nigel]

Thanks Jojonas, anyone got any more they can add?

[MJL]

Thank you, Nigel!

[Francois]

Here is for Quebec.
If it's not useful for anyone, it'll at least be a reminder for me

http://www.francisvachon.com/blog/le-droit-a-l%E2%80%99image-au-quebec/

[Klaus]

UK - have a look at the Metropolitan Police webpage

http://www.met.police.uk/about/photography.htm

The Met covers Greater London but the advice should be applicable throughout the UK (Northern Ireland may have different rules?). I think a copy of this webpage might be useful if there is an issue with an ill-informed cop.

[mcduff]

Some places, such as my city (kitchener ontario canada) have rules that border on the absurd! Eg: http://code.municipalworld.com/kitchener/592.pdf

Rumour has it that it was to stop commercial photogs from setting up camp on the curb. While I like this town, it is not a tourist Mecca that people flock to so I am not sure whose cornflakes were pissed on to warrant a max $25,000 penalty!

This conversation is reminding me of the ones that appear on a regular basis in the skateboard forums. I know there is a disproportionately high percentage of fellow (or aging, in my case) skate heads here. While this is a serious issue, I will pause to smile at these worlds colliding once again. (Then I will go out and shoot some pics - maybe I should go shoot our rather boring city hall, haha.)

[benjiboy]

It's very well knowing your rights but not much use when two sixteen stone cops are beating the shit out of you in the back of a police van.

[FiatluX]

At least being beaten unlawfully is better than being beaten for a reason.. 

[Ezzie]

In Norway it's not so much what you take a picture of but who. People have a right to a degree of privacy, even in public. You may of course take pictures of just about anyone, but you can't publish (in any form or manner) them without the subject's consent. The exception being is of course if the subject is a public figure performing public duties (politicians etc), or if he/she is partaking in a demonstration of gathering. Or finally if the subject cannot be uniquely identified. Funnily enough limited to Norwegian citizens, so if you take a picture of a foreign tourist, they are not protected by the law in the same manner.

Norwegian penal code (Straffeloven) §390 and 390a if you are interested.

[Sandeha Lynch]

Here is the Amateur Photographer card for the UK.