Move to ban photography in public places

M

mal

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I was horrified to learn that the British Government is about to propose restrictions on photography in public places which is likely to make street photography and documentary photography against the law.

If you would like to sign a petition against this ludicrous idea follow this link: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Photography
 
Relax, it's not going to happen.

If any law was enacted it would only be that anybody making photos would need to show an ID if asked.

In an age when everybody has a mobile phone (with camera) laws against photography are unworkable and Tony Blair knows that too.
 
Mal, this is worrying if true. But I think that it is an urban myth. The same story was reported on another forum to which I belong. A friend then made a determined effort to substantiate it, and I have also tried. We can't turn up any evidence to support the claim. Can you point me in the right direction?

All the best,

Chris
 
Jon, it hasn't stopped Blair introducing many other unworkable laws. Fox hunting, prostitute cards in telephone boxes, cycling on the pavement, mobile telephone usage in cars etc, etc, etc...
 
We've had this thread. There are no proposals to prohibit photography in public places AFAICT. Anyone can start a petition about anything, regardless.

Ian
 
mal said:
Jon, it hasn't stopped Blair introducing many other unworkable laws. Fox hunting, prostitute cards in telephone boxes, cycling on the pavement, mobile telephone usage in cars etc, etc, etc...
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Dare I mention Iraq, too? Cycling on the pavement? Does he want bikes on or off the pavement? We have fought hard in the US to be recognized as legal vehicles so most of us don't want to cycle on the sidewalk.

Sorry for straying off topic, but cycling on the street is equally as important to me as photographing on the street, and that's VERY important.

Is Blair on his way out?
 
This topic has been covered already. This is not a political forum. If it affects photography, fine, but keep the general politics out of it.

Kim
 
Wasn't that petition a bunch of crap like the one in the "photography is about to become illegal!!!" thread?
 
It's the same petition, Ash and, sadly, this could be the same thread. Blair is on his way out, Dick, but he won't say exactly when :) (this is a statement of fact and in no way a political opinion).
 
Kim Coxon said:
This topic has been covered already. This is not a political forum. If it affects photography, fine, but keep the general politics out of it.

Kim
Click to expand...

Well, Kim, it affects photography. I understand and agree with you, basically, but you can't totally divorce photography from the real world, especially the kind that is often advanced through rangefinder photography. If Eddie Adams or Mary Ellen Mark didn't have a point of view, their work would be banal.

There is something at stake when hysteria takes over and people, out of fear, start telling you what you can and can't do in public places, including photography. That should interest you a little and it is right on topic.
 
Dick, sorry to be blunt, but you aren't even IN the country this is directed towards. Furthermore our restrictions on pedestrians and cyclists are more than fair.

But anyway this thread is meaningless when theres already at least one thread on every forum out there.
 
The topic of this "petition" was covered fairly well in this thread. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36822 It also lead onto a more general discussion on photo permits here http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36888

I have no problem with such a topic and it would be important if it were true. However, general politics outside of photography does not work on an international photography forum such this. I was referring to such things as fox hunting, cycling, mobile phones and even Iraq etc. That topic has also been fairly well covered recently as well. ;)

Kim



Bike Tourist said:
Well, Kim, it affects photography. I understand and agree with you, basically, but you can't totally divorce photography from the real world, especially the kind that is often advanced through rangefinder photography. If Eddie Adams or Mary Ellen Mark didn't have a point of view, their work would be banal.

There is something at stake when hysteria takes over and people, out of fear, start telling you what you can and can't do in public places, including photography. That should interest you a little and it is right on topic.
Click to expand...
 
I checked the www.snopes.com Urban Legends page, and this doesn't show up there yet. (That doesn't make it true, only that I can't link to my usual site for refuting false emails, petitions, etc)...
 
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