New Events

Dublin

no events posted in last week

Blog Feeds

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Human Rights in Ireland
Promoting Human Rights in Ireland

Human Rights in Ireland >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link News Round-Up Wed Apr 23, 2025 00:59 | Richard Eldred
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the ?climate emergency?, public health ?crises? and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
The post News Round-Up appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Merz Once Promised to Cut AfD Support in Half. He Has Doubled it Instead Tue Apr 22, 2025 19:00 | Eugyppius
When incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz first ran to be party chairman he pledged to cut the AfD's support in half. Seven years later he has doubled it instead, says Eugyppius.
The post Merz Once Promised to Cut AfD Support in Half. He Has Doubled it Instead appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Reeves Cannot Blame Trump for British Growth Downgrade, Says IMF Tue Apr 22, 2025 17:23 | Will Jones
Rachel Reeves cannot blame Donald Trump's trade war for the downgrade in the UK's growth prospects, the IMF has said, as it warns that Britain's inflation rate will be higher than in the US.
The post Reeves Cannot Blame Trump for British Growth Downgrade, Says IMF appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Climate Adviser Racks Up 40,000 Air Miles While Backing Tax on Frequent Flyers Tue Apr 22, 2025 15:11 | Will Jones
A Government climate adviser ? a member of the Climate Change Committee, no less ? who backed a tax on frequent flyers has racked up 40,000 air miles in a year by jetting to environmental conferences.
The post Climate Adviser Racks Up 40,000 Air Miles While Backing Tax on Frequent Flyers appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Migrant Crime League Tables to be Published Tue Apr 22, 2025 13:00 | Will Jones
The nationalities of migrants with the highest rates of crime will be revealed in official?league tables?for the first time under plans due to be announced by the Government today.
The post Migrant Crime League Tables to be Published appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Lockdown Skeptics >>

Voltaire Network
Voltaire, international edition

offsite link Will intergovernmental institutions withstand the end of the "American Empire"?,... Sat Apr 05, 2025 07:15 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?127 Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:38 | en

offsite link Disintegration of Western democracy begins in France Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:00 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?126 Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:39 | en

offsite link The International Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism by Amichai Chikli and Na... Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:31 | en

Voltaire Network >>

Freedom to take Pictures

category dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis author Thursday August 13, 2009 11:56author by Photographer Report this post to the editors

The rights of photographers.

In Ireland, any photographer (professional, amateur, self-styled photojournalist, political activist, employee of a multinational, Garda, ...) has the right to take photographs in a public place without the permission of the subject. A subject has no right to stop a photographer or demand to know their identity.

If for no other reason than it leads to better images, most photographers will engage with their subjects, identity themselves and explain what they are doing. However, if a photographer does not want to identify themselves they have the right not to do so unless questioned by a Garda.

Some groups protesting on the street of Dublin take an aggressive attitude to photographers and seem to believe that they have the right to stop photographers taking pictures or the right to control who can take pictures of them. Given that most protests are about gaining publicity, this is odd.

I believe that this attitude needs to be challenged.

Most people who use this site support the right of protesters to take photographs of Garda, security personnel, etc.. Most users of this site would support protests against repressive regimes stopping citizens taking photographs in other countries. Most users of this site ...

So why do some people feel that is acceptable to try to impose their own restrictions on photographers in Ireland?

author by duhpublication date Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:11author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Because some of us who are protesting are doing so without the knowledge of our employers.

author by Seanpublication date Thu Aug 13, 2009 13:40author address author phone Report this post to the editors

It is one thing taking a general crowd scene, quite another to take a close up of an individual. People have the right to refuse to have their photo taken.

author by Mark Cpublication date Thu Aug 13, 2009 16:05author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Some people DO have a right not to be photographed/published. Or at the very least, not to have their photograph taken and publicly displayed with questions such as: "Do you know this man?" "Why is he acting strange?" "Is he Special Branch?" etc.

As an illustration, when I was growing up, there was a psychiatric hospital nearby. Often, as you can imagine, people around it would be acting strange (they were "mad"). Now, would it be fair for me to take their photographs and put them on Indymedia and ask people are they Special Branch or questions to that effect, just because they were acting strange?

Also, some people need to do their work anonymously - for example, if they are civil servants they may not want their bosses to know that they are demonstrating against the government. You, the author, for example, are doing the same here by calling yourself "Photographer" rather than the name you usually post under!

Related Link: http://www.kingofthetravellers.com
author by Photographerpublication date Thu Aug 13, 2009 16:37author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I agree. People DO have the right NOT to have their image published in a way that is misleading or untruthful. I started this thread because images of a photographer were posted with questions like "Do you know this man?" and "Why is he acting strange?"

However, there is NO right NOT to have your photograph taken when in public place. If such a right existed, I think you would find that many notable people would exercise that right.

I also agree with you that it would be UNFAIR to take images of "mad" people and post them on Indymedia, but that does not make it illegal.

author by modelpublication date Thu Aug 13, 2009 17:15author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Everyone has a right to go about their business without being intimidated or harrassed. If a photogrpaher has any sense he should want to work with his subjects, in an atmosphere of respect.

While it may be legal to do something, it is not always wise or reasonable to do it.

Lack of respect can be a weapon.

Notably, the police employ cameras as a tool of intimidation and control - see : http://www.fitwatch.blogspot.com

People should not be stopped from going to demonstrations or protests by the police taking pictures of them.

Similarly they should not be discouraged from activisism by selfish photographers insisting on posting images on the internet. Serious thought should be given to this by indymedia, as the use of captions, juxtapositions, photoshopped images, and just thoughtless use of pictures can destroy campaigns.

 
© 2001-2025 Independent Media Centre Ireland. Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by Independent Media Centre Ireland. Disclaimer | Privacy