The ethical quicksand of filming people without their consent
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. I have long pursued the genre of street photography as an amateur photographer. Lately, though, I am increasingly uneasy about the ethics of taking people’s photographs in public places, especially if I intend to post my work online.
Though my work does not extend to video, I feel that I must give up street photography. Imagine walking down a busy street, minding your business, when suddenly you become a viral video star. Filming people without their consent, especially in public spaces, has become a pressing issue in the digital age.
With smartphones constantly in hand, snapping photos or videos of strangers has become second nature to many, often with little regard for the individual’s right to privacy. But what happens when such content is posted online and goes viral? Is it ethical to film or photograph people without permission, especially when those images can live on the internet indefinitely? A core issue with photographing or filming individuals without consent is the line between public and private spaces. Legally, people have a diminished expectation of privacy in public places, where they can be captured on camera as part of the environment.
However, the ethical question remains: Should we film people just because we can? In 2019, The Atlantic explored its ramifications for children, where parents often unknowingly broadcast their kids’ lives across social media platforms. In ’When Kids Realize Their Whole Life Is Already Online’, Taylor Lorenz emphasizes that today’s children face a world where their personal moments—innocuous or not—are shared publicly long before they can give consent. Well-meaning parents often post these images and videos, but the ethical issue lies in
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