Taking Pictures Blatantly

[asdfghjkl]

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/for...77521,00.html?

March 13, 2006

Pictures snapped without consent: What can we do?

RECENTLY, a man attracted criminal sanctions for using a camera to take pictures under a woman's skirt. With the rise in camera phones and phones in-built with video-recording functions, the question of the extent of one's right to privacy has assumed unprecedented importance.

I am not referring to incidents where a person videotapes himself or herself and this clip falls into the wrong hands. I am talking about strangers taking pictures of others without their consent.

I was travelling on a train recently when a man whipped out his camera phone and aimed it in my direction. I had never seen anyone SMS at that angle before so I grew a little suspicious. Sure enough, when he later turned towards some secondary schoolgirls, I could see from his phone screen that he was indeed taking pictures.

Later, he squatted down beside a panel separating us and stared blatantly at my chest. I used my file to block his view, but he stood up, and just kept staring. I was afraid to move for fear that he would follow me, and I felt safer sitting than standing.

He then whipped out his phone for the second time and tried to take my picture again. I turned away quickly.

Before anyone starts pointing fingers and saying, 'She probably asked for it with her dressing', I was dressed in an inconspicuous loose-fitting T-shirt and jeans.

And this is not the first time I have had bad experiences on trains. I no longer take the train during peak hours due to incidents where I have been brushed inappropriately.

For the purposes of this letter, though, I will stick to my complaint about pictures being taken without consent.

As a law student, I am all too aware that there exists no adequate law on privacy that will prevent others from taking our pictures.

However, with the advancement in the ability to manipulate and transfer information, this concerns me a whole lot. What if a photograph you had no knowledge of appears on the Internet? What if it was digitally modified into an obscene photograph?

Under the current law, it appears that you have no proprietary rights over even an image of yourself.

I was told that we may ask the person to delete the photograph from his phone, but if he refuses, you have no further recourse, and seizing the phone would place you at fault in the eyes of the law.

The current situation is very frustrating as it appears that the law is on the side of those men who pose a threat to females. And I have absolutely no recourse against that man, except to write in and warn other young women to be on their guard against such weirdos, one of whom was last seen dressed in a yellow and green cap, a yellow top, jeans and a haversack. He was in his late 30s, with greasy tanned skin and was of average height and build. Sim

Khadijah Mohammed (Ms)

[blue_swatch]

Soon there will be a law to protect such victims

[Orgasmic]

Another sinkie bitch who thinks highly of herself and thinks too much.

Still dare to say she is a law student. Stupid mentality.. Thats why law school here are churning out idiots who speak rubbish.

What does she suggest? All guys should be BANNED from holding camera phones?!

Originally Posted by asdfghjkl

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/for...77521,00.html?

March 13, 2006

Pictures snapped without consent: What can we do?

RECENTLY, a man attracted criminal sanctions for using a camera to take pictures under a woman's skirt. With the rise in camera phones and phones in-built with video-recording functions, the question of the extent of one's right to privacy has assumed unprecedented importance.

I am not referring to incidents where a person videotapes himself or herself and this clip falls into the wrong hands. I am talking about strangers taking pictures of others without their consent.

I was travelling on a train recently when a man whipped out his camera phone and aimed it in my direction. I had never seen anyone SMS at that angle before so I grew a little suspicious. Sure enough, when he later turned towards some secondary schoolgirls, I could see from his phone screen that he was indeed taking pictures.

Later, he squatted down beside a panel separating us and stared blatantly at my chest. I used my file to block his view, but he stood up, and just kept staring. I was afraid to move for fear that he would follow me, and I felt safer sitting than standing.

He then whipped out his phone for the second time and tried to take my picture again. I turned away quickly.

Before anyone starts pointing fingers and saying, 'She probably asked for it with her dressing', I was dressed in an inconspicuous loose-fitting T-shirt and jeans.

And this is not the first time I have had bad experiences on trains. I no longer take the train during peak hours due to incidents where I have been brushed inappropriately.

For the purposes of this letter, though, I will stick to my complaint about pictures being taken without consent.

As a law student, I am all too aware that there exists no adequate law on privacy that will prevent others from taking our pictures.

However, with the advancement in the ability to manipulate and transfer information, this concerns me a whole lot. What if a photograph you had no knowledge of appears on the Internet? What if it was digitally modified into an obscene photograph?

Under the current law, it appears that you have no proprietary rights over even an image of yourself.

I was told that we may ask the person to delete the photograph from his phone, but if he refuses, you have no further recourse, and seizing the phone would place you at fault in the eyes of the law.

The current situation is very frustrating as it appears that the law is on the side of those men who pose a threat to females. And I have absolutely no recourse against that man, except to write in and warn other young women to be on their guard against such weirdos, one of whom was last seen dressed in a yellow and green cap, a yellow top, jeans and a haversack. He was in his late 30s, with greasy tanned skin and was of average height and build. Sim

Khadijah Mohammed (Ms)

[yanki1]

Sis, u must be very chio. if not he wun wan to take pic of u

[laodi123456789]

I think there is a law against taking this kind of picture without the owner / person's consent. Photos can be taken of crowd scenes and of many people but when there is a clearly defined individual subject/s of a photo, permission must be granted by the subject of the picture.

Can any real lawyers here advise?

[benz]

If you choose to appear in public places,
Other people are free to snap your faces,
But they can't really exhibit their pieces,
unless you celebrity or person in high places.

[hellfrezz77]

i guess there some really sickos out there, so mayb next time u should all be more careful lah ok, especially u sis asdfghjkl, if u really 1 2 do something about it, mayb u can write a tesis of law about this n mayb u will get some attention,....... i dont know i just tcss.

[Deep Blue]

Handphones come with camera, people abuse it. Viagara aims to aid man, men abuse it it. We shower our tender, loving, care, women abuse it.

It is a double edged sword.

[asdfghjkl]

any more comments on this matter?

[qw2op]

dust oredi settled still dig up 4 wat? ...

think ze guy was merely testing his camera fone lah ... wen u hv a new toy, u r eager 2 play wif it, dun u? ... so, test it on sumthing lah ... dun think he wants 2 keep dose images anyway ... think he has betta tastes ...

Originally Posted by asdfghjkl

any more comments on this matter?

juz a small question ...

do u happen 2 b in ur late 30s, hv greasy tanned skin, of average height n build, n owns a yellow n green cap, a yellow top, jeans n a haversack?

me dun, hor ...

[tomvoyeur]

Originally Posted by laodi123456789

I think there is a law against taking this kind of picture without the owner / person's consent. Photos can be taken of crowd scenes and of many people but when there is a clearly defined individual subject/s of a photo, permission must be granted by the subject of the picture.

Can any real lawyers here advise?

Not a lawyer but as long as the picture is not lewd by definition, then no crime is commited....

[Freman]

hi,

there's no law against such pictures.

if there is, paris hilton's lawyer will be having a field day.... I'm sure they already think hard about this.

btw, I believe TS is not the muslim lawyer student herself, he cut and paste news from somewhere.

for the lady herself, I got 1 advice, go wear ur traditional muslim outfit, then no one will take photo of u.

[MrCrowley]

hi asdfghjkl, u shld at that point (when u find that that fella is picturing ur chest area) alert the people arnd u to help get hold of him and send him to the security in the next train station. U can actually file an outrage of modesty against him to the police as there are evidence in his phone of u

[WestPipper]

The victim has every reason and rights to ask the taker to remove the flim or the pictures off his handphone, if not the victim can take actions against him.

I think can take pictures of somebody else but cannot use it for public use ...