Phone photos invading privacy

It is, I suppose, but going back a few years, people would often present me with a snapshot they had caught of my daughter, on a normal camera.

It's all changed since then, though.

So she took pics to send to the child's mother?

Why would she do that?

I think it is less about the technology and more about the intent of the action

The intent of the action might be she thought it nice to send a photo of her friend’s mum with the grandchildren in lovely surroundings?
Maybe. Who knows, why the suspicion?

It was probably meant as 'Look who I've just seen ' and harmless, but yes, I'd probably have felt a bit narked by that.

Intent of the action can be good or bad, I did not hint any suspicion per se

If the person is a friend of the children's mum, I'd not suspect anything untoward.

People take photos because it's quicker than sending a message. Probably just laziness.

I'd be very annoyed and I would consider it a invasion of privacy too.

I wonder why she didn't make herself known? Did you see her take the photos?

I think I would have gone to say hello and just ask why she was taking photos?

Maybe an innocent mistake but you never know these days and I'm not a paranoid person. You just have to be careful taking photos of children that aren't your own these days. I'm sure she wouldn't like it the other way round.

I don't feel this is essentially different from mentioning to the children's mother that you happened to see them with their gran at such-and-such a place on such-and-such a day and how nice that was.

The message is the same, just in a different format.

As far as I am aware, in the UK. it is not illegal to takes pictures of children in a public place without permission.
She probably did it without thinking, however I think she should have told you she was doing it.
She certainly shouldn't consider posting them on social media, if she has done so.
I would be very annoyed.

It just sounds a bit thoughtless. She spotted you and took a quick photo not thinking that you would find it unsettling. I doubt there was any bad intent on her part.

It would have been more courteous if the friend had told you what she'd done - or, better, have asked first.

Posting pictures of children on social media without parental permission is a big 'no no'.

Marydoll

As far as I am aware, in the UK. it is not illegal to takes pictures of children in a public place without permission.
She probably did it without thinking, however I think she should have told you she was doing it.
She certainly shouldn't consider posting them on social media, if she has done so.
I would be very annoyed.

Maybe not illegal but it’s not something I’m going to do, that’s one of the reasons I steer clear of children, the worry of getting accused of something is just not worth getting involved.
Most men are the same.

Definitely an invasion of privacy in my view, Cambsnan. She should have made herself known to you and asked first.

David49

Marydoll

As far as I am aware, in the UK. it is not illegal to takes pictures of children in a public place without permission.
She probably did it without thinking, however I think she should have told you she was doing it.
She certainly shouldn't consider posting them on social media, if she has done so.
I would be very annoyed.

Maybe not illegal but it’s not something I’m going to do, that’s one of the reasons I steer clear of children, the worry of getting accused of something is just not worth getting involved.
Most men are the same.

David I am heavily involved in Safeguarding and GDPR.
If I had my way, I would make it illegal if no consent is given. Even then posting photos of children on social media would concern me.

David I am heavily involved in Safeguarding and GDPR.
If I had my way, I would make it illegal if no consent is given. Even then posting photos of children on social media would concern me.

As a registered childminder I am classed as a Data Protection Officer.
An image is data.
I have to pay each year to subscribe to the Information Commissioners Office and display my certificate.
The minded children's parents have all signed permission for me to take photos of their children. I only share photos of their own child with them, never a group shot and never with anyone else.
I never post anything about them on social media, including my grandchildren.
People in general under-estimate the potential risks involved.
Sad but it's where we are unfortunately ☹️

While I share the concerns raised, I can confirm that it is definitely NOT illegal to take photos of children (or anyone else, for that matter) in a public place without permission. I had to know the law on this for work.

According to the OP, the photos were sent to the children’s mother. That is not equal to posting them on social media which some people seem to be assuming.

I would be furious about this I think it’s creepy. I hope I would confront the person about it at the time of realising what she was doing

Even in family or close friend groups together we never take photos of the grandchildren or their friends without asking permission. That is their right surely?

I noticed a man filming on the walkway where I walk the family pooch and saw him walking back to his car when he seemed to notice us and returned. At this point he was on the other side of the stream we were walking along and was quite blatantly filming us - with a camera not a phone. At first I thought he may be filming us because I was in a high viz jacket and there was a Gala Day coming up where there was to be a stall featuring the walk way and thought he would speak to me about using the footage at that event... However he hurried back to his car and took off before we had crossed the bridge. I felt a bit creeped out by it all....though it was probably just a failure of good manners or even shyness on his part.... As for the OP; I'm not much of a photographer myself but would not be taking pics of other people's children, however tempting, without explicit permission...

Oh I don’t know it was probably quite innocent as she sent them . to the mums just a “look who I ve just seen”
I don’t think I d have taken it that seriously if she was a good friend ,of course someone not known to me then yes I d have been more cautious
Strange she didn’t come and say hello though

She took them if ‘us’ not just the children seadragon

It seems to me that so many people have to take photos of everything instead of just enjoying the moment.
I have a couple of relatives who send photos all the time. So tedious, I manage to ignore some of them, a few are welcome but I d rather spend time on GN than thinking up comments like beautiful, looks like you are having a great time ect. Thank heavens for emojis.
I try my hardest not to get anyone I don’t know in any photo I take. In this case the woman did know the children and, I presume she only sent them to their mother. Did she delete them after that? Hope the mother was happy with the photos.
It would have irritated me.

Baggs

According to the OP, the photos were sent to the children’s mother. That is not equal to posting them on social media which some people seem to be assuming.

My comment was a general one about posting photos on social media.
I have had to deal with a few of those instances, when I was working.
I believe people are usually naive, not malicious.

I don’t think she meant any harm. Maybe it a generational thing. I was annoyed. I didn’t see her take photos. My daughter sent them to me. She thought it just a fun thing from a friend. As someone above said, “look who I just saw”. I don’t know this woman but she recognised the children. Had I seen a stranger take our photo I would really have been freaked out!