Posted: 5/23/2009 2:16:41 PM EDT
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I remember a thread a while back about some loser who was using a staircase and a cell phone camera to take compromising photographs of unsuspecting ladies. Everyone here jumped all over it and said that the jerk should get prison time. Now, I would like to take this as an opportunity to mention that I am not defending these actions merely that I cannot see how they could be against the law. Slimy and immoral sure, but not illegal. If you were photographing a friend in a public place you are sure to end up with some images of people who did intend or consent to be photographed. Security cameras go one step further as they are generally hidden or at least not located in an obvious way. Where is the line drawn here? When does the placement of cameras begin to become immoral, what laws could it violate? |
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Quoted:
Where is the line drawn here? When does the placement of cameras begin to become immoral, what laws could it violate? Ask the State of New Jersey. In NJ it is good and lawful and in the interest of justice for a cop to video anyone and everyone, but it is obstruction of justice to video a cop. Explain that in an intelligent fashion, and I will gladly answer your question. |
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It's all about reasonable expectation of privacy.
If you're in a public place, there's not much to go on. If you're in the dressing room of your favorite store, well, there are issues there. Upskirt photos and the like, to my knowledge, are somewhat of a gray area, but I'm not really able to explain why. It seems like there'd be a law against it, but I really don't know. I do know, for a fact, that if I'm out in public with my camera, I can take pictures of whoever or whatever I want, so long as I remain on public property and don't interfere with anyone else. |
Yup. Out in public you can take just about any picture you want, provided it wouldn't be otherwise illegal (like 12-year-old panty shots ). There's no expectation of privacy in a public place. In places like dressing rooms, restroom stalls, etc., though, I would expect the expectation of privacy to be much stronger. That's the main reason they exist, after all. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Where is the line drawn here? When does the placement of cameras begin to become immoral, what laws could it violate? Ask the State of New Jersey. In NJ it is good and lawful and in the interest of justice for a cop to video anyone and everyone, but it is obstruction of justice to video a cop. Explain that in an intelligent fashion, and I will gladly answer your question. It's New Jersey, and in some cases, you need to take things in context. But taking things out of context is easier to whine about. |
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It varies from state to state.
Illinois, for example, it is legal to video the public without their knowledge. But it is not legal to record them speaking without their knowledge. At least according to the local PD when I lived in Illinois, and wanted to set up a security camera on the porch of an apartment I rented. |