[prepend]

I’ve seen similar interactions where people seem to think they have a lot more power over their image than they do legally, or certainly seem like, to me, ethical should have.

I was in a local public street market and I was trying to take a picture of an o next sitting on a vendor’s table (not sure if it was a lamp, sculpture, or something else).

The guy became very irate, came out from behind the table, started yelling, bumped his chest to mine, and said I couldn’t take a picture and that I had to leave or he would call “management” and “the police.”

It was very odd and interesting because he’s set up in a public place. He wasn’t really up for discussion, but when I said that it was legal to take pictures of public spaces he said that he didn’t want me to and if I didn’t respect his wishes I had to leave. I was standing in the street where his table was set up, so it was doubly odd.

Legally, in the US, it’s fine to take photos in public spaces (and usually even sell them) [0] but I can’t find opinion poll data to see if it’s common for people to think this should be restricted.

I try to think of how this will play out given trends in tech and transhumanism. Eventually we’ll likely have total clarity archives of everything we experience. How do we balance people’s freedom to their own senses vs people’s preferences?

I think we’re covered with current laws to prevent illegal acts done with the photos (fraud, harassment, etc). But not sure what we should do to stop photos or help people not care about photos.

[0] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Country_specific_...

[ghaff]

I'm not sure that's a great example. In the US, legally, you're probably right. As a matter of good manners, if a vendor at a crafts fair in a public space puts up a "No photos please" sign, I'm going to respect their wishes. They're paying for a stall to sell things, not to be a photo subject.

If I'm shooting pics on a street or a park and someone makes it clear they don't want their picture taken, I'm not going to insist on my legal rights. (BTW, this is a different case from officials saying I can't take pictures of some public space because security or whatever--although I mostly won't care enough to try to make a point.)

Just because something's legal, doesn't mean you have to insist on doing it against someone's wishes.

[prepend]

This is why I was looking for opinion data as I feel quite differently in that a “please no photos” is an unreasonable request.

I’m not going out of my way to bother the person, but if I need a photo, then I will take it. I don’t think that’s part of general politeness. And being publicly visible is part of buying a stall (free in this venue).

Again, I think of this in the viewpoint of how I archive my life. Should I turn off my recording to please everyone’s various wishes, if they are unreasonable.

However, I feel differently in someone’s home or a public business where their requests may not have legal binding, but I’d certainly comply.