Staff photographing celebrities without their permission?

[KNN]

This really isn't on.

An anonymous employee of the train company who snapped the couple, said: "I don’t think any other travellers recognised them.

"I pointed her and Tom out to my work colleagues otherwise I think they wouldn’t have been spotted and travelled to their final destination unnoticed."

'Nobody notices' as Margot Robbie enjoys a Pret on UK train

The Suicide Squad and Wolf of Wall Street star went unnoticed on the London to Edinburgh service with husband Tom Ackerley

www.coventrytelegraph.net

 

[The exile]

Fairly certain that there is no law against it - publication may be different.

 

[Sealink]

Didn't she know there was a complimentary food offering?

 

[66701GBRF]

Fairly certain that there is no law against it - publication may be different.

Morally questionable maybe, but they are in a public place so no law against publication.

 

[Energy]

Fairly certain that there is no law against it - publication may be different.

It isn’t illegal but it’s poor form for a railway employee to take a photo and send it to the press.

It may also be against the employers rules. If LNER management find out which train it was I’d expect some quiet words to that employee.

 

[John Luxton]

Some guide lines can be found here relevant to the UK.

Your Rights As A Photographer - Institute of Photography

HOW TO STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LAW *Disclaimer* : This article should not be considered legal advice. Please do your own research

www.institute-of-photography.com

"The first thing to note is there is no specific law in the UK* against photographing people, even children. It is your right as a photographer to take a photo of whatever subject you like, providing your subject is not in a place where they might reasonably expect privacy (in their own home, for example)."

There can be restrictions on taking photos in private places which are open to the public and railways would come into that bracket, but the railways tend to be tolerant of photographers fortunately.

Personally I am an avid photographer who generally doesn't like photographing people.

Certainly wouldn't include people in my photos unless they add to a scene - so I imagine quite a few transport staff - road, rail and sea have found their way into my photos over the years - but I would not consider photographing someone because they are famous.

I have not got a very good memory for faces - but many years ago I was sat in a ship's lifeboat going ashore on Lundy Island and the chap sitting opposite me looked rather familiar but I couldn't place him. On the way back I saw the same chap and realised it was actor Timothy West (who is a rail and ship enthusiast). I would never have even considered taking his photo either asking him or even attempting it covertly. Just wouldn't seem right.

 

[43066]

There’s no law against photographing/filming in public, as we are reminded whenever there is a thread discussing railway staff being filmed/photographed without their permission when they’re at work!

That aside, I suspect an employee caught doing this would be in hot water, and potentially at risk of a “bringing the company into disrepute” or similar disciplinary charge. Not a risk I would take personally - not that I would recognise most celebrities!

 

[AverageJoe]

People are taking photo’s with random members of the public on them all the time.

I was a bus driver and now a train driver and have been photographed without permission hundreds if not thousands of times.

Im not saying it is right but if I have to put up with it, someone whose job is fundamentally to be “famous” should almost expect it with the job.

Not sure why the employee would send it to the press tho, desperate for attention maybe.

 

[ainsworth74]

It isn’t illegal but it’s poor form for a railway employee to take a photo and send it to the press.

This! I don't think there's any real issue with taking a quick snap and sharing with colleagues or friends "Look who's on my train!" but sending it press? That's really poor in my view especially when the person in question is clearly trying travel quietly without drawing attention to themselves.

 

[yorkie]

People are taking photo’s with random members of the public on them all the time.

I was a bus driver and now a train driver and have been photographed without permission hundreds if not thousands of times.

But surely not by an employee of the transport provider, and with your identity published?

I think this is a false equivalence; what you describe is very different to what this thread is about.

Im not saying it is right but if I have to put up with it, someone whose job is fundamentally to be “famous” should almost expect it with the job.

You've not had the same thing done to you, surely?

 

[duffield]

As a slight aside on this matter, as far as I know from my reading of the forum posting rules there is no specific prohibition against posting photos on this forum which include potentially identifiable people. However, personally, in the odd case where I've posted in trip reports, and there was such a person who had "intruded" into my railway related picture, I've applied a blur to their face to make them anonymous.

I would suggest this is a good idea if there are any faces close enough and clear enough for it to be relevant.

 

[PupCuff]

It must be pretty frustrating being someone 'known' and you can't go anywhere without someone wanting an autograph or a selfie.

I've never had anywhere I worked prohibit asking for pictures etc but it the same time I've never actively asked. I personally think it's a bit unprofessional. Most of the time that said even if I recognise them, which is rare, I'd have no interest in a photo.

 

[Peter0124]

It must be pretty frustrating being someone 'known' and you can't go anywhere without someone wanting an autograph or a selfie.

That'll be why some keep themselves anonymous despite being well known (Marshmello a good example). Keeps the privacy whilst also being famous.

 

[KNN]

Interesting to see there is a diversity of views, I'd thought it would be unacceptable to most people.

 

[paninaro]

There’s no law against photographing/filming in public, as we are reminded whenever there is a thread discussing railway staff being filmed/photographed without their permission when they’re at work!

Genuine question; is a train a public or private space? I have no idea

 

[AlterEgo]

Genuine question; is a train a public or private space? I have no idea

It is a public space. You have no expectation of privacy there.

 

[185]

It is unacceptable and appropriate because I haven't got clue who Margot and her friend Robbie are.

 

[paninaro]

It is a public space. You have no expectation of privacy there.

I suppose I don't get the difference between it and a shopping centre, both are "public" but the latter is called out as a "private space" in the linked article above

 

[geoffk]

We should all be more worried about being on CCTV or facial recognition software. This was what I told a woman who approached a group of us bus photographers saying she wanted us to delete any photos with her included.

 

[Belperpete]

I consider it unacceptable for a railway employee to do this, because it might put them (and other celebrities) off travelling by train. Of course, there is nothing to stop members of the public doing it. But surely it should only be polite to ask permission first, especially if you are going to post the photo onto social media or send it to the press.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Aug 2024 ==

We should all be more worried about being on CCTV or facial recognition software. This was what I told a woman who approached a group of us bus photographers saying she wanted us to delete any photos with her included.

Do photos on CCTV or facial recognition software get posted to social media or sent to the press? I thought there were rules around what such images can be used for.

 

[geoffk]

I consider it unacceptable for a railway employee to do this, because it might put them (and other celebrities) off travelling by train. Of course, there is nothing to stop members of the public doing it. But surely it should only be polite to ask permission first, especially if you are going to post the photo onto social media or send it to the press.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Aug 2024 ==


Do photos on CCTV or facial recognition software get posted to social media or sent to the press? I thought there were rules around what such images can be used for.

No, but our conversation wasn't about photos being published - but they could be misused by the "authorities".

 

[Stewart2887]

Marshmello? Who? But I did see a photo of a GWR conductor with Billy Joel. Cool-if it was with permission

 

[John Luxton]

It is a public space. You have no expectation of privacy there.

Technically a train as are shopping centres private spaces on private land.

Once or twice over the years I have spotted myself in photos posted on Flickr or other such places from fellow enthusiasts hang out.

I have no problem with that and sometimes find it quite amusing but the person who took the photo didn't set out to photograph me I just happened to be there with other people.

However, photographing an individual just because who they are seems wrong to me.

The media seem to monetise images of famous people and I think this is the motivation for some people doing it.

 

[Gemz91]

When I started as a customer host in 2010 we were told in no circumstances should you ask a celebrity for a photo. You was to treat them as any other normal passenger. Strange how over the years it’s become acceptable to ask celebrities for photos now. Even seen tocs posting pictures of celebrities on social media. Personally I find it a bit cringy, just let them crack on with the their lives and eat their sandwich’s like anyone else. Seems a bit unprofessional taking a photo of a passenger, whether you ask and certainly if you don’t ask.*

Would it be acceptable on a first class flight?


*I did take a photo of a passenger being racist towards another passenger yesterday but I do feel that is different.

 

[Uncle Buck]

A fellow traveller seeing Margot Robbie and photographing her is bad manners. A member of staff seeing her and photographing her is unprofessional in the extreme and ought to justify disciplinary action. Absolutely bang out of order. Can they not behave themselves at work?

(As an aside, when I visited Windsor Castle, I was taking a photograph of the Quadrangle, aware that some people were moving around a car in the corner. Only after I looked at the photo later did I notice that this was Prince William and some of his children. Perhaps when Princess Charlotte writes her misery memoirs in 2050 a la her uncle Harry, this will be an incident she remembers for the wrong reasons!!)

 

[AverageJoe]

But surely not by an employee of the transport provider, and with your identity published?

I think this is a false equivalence; what you describe is very different to what this thread is about.

You've not had the same thing done to you, surely?

I’m sure my face is on countless forums over the years without my permission.

It’s only because I’m not famous that it hasn’t reached the papers.

I mean I literally said it’s unusual for the employee to do it so I don’t know what more you would like me to say on that.

My point was it’s not a crime and they work in an industry that brings about this type of reaction.

Whether people think it’s morally right or wrong is a different matter.

 

[nanstallon]

If you don't want to be photographed, stay at home!

 

[LowLevel]

Personally I think it's poor form for an employee.

 

[michael74]

As I understand the railway is private property, not public land (hence the ability to refuse admission, kick people off/out and set its own bylaws).

There is no expectation of privacy from the use of CCTV or bodyworn cameras as these are GDPR compliant for use in prosecutions etc

In the case of antisocial behaviour we are told under no circumstances to take pictures using our own or company issued phones etc (see above re: GDPR/evidence chain etc).

This bit I am unsure of, but in my mind I imagine that the covert photo of the celebs and subsequent publishing may infringe company policy (and maybe GDPR because we are on private property, really not sure now) but it's also just bad form and tacky.

 

[spyinthesky]

Starstruck ! How people belittle themselves.