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Rules, rules, rules

2 comments on Rules, rules, rules

Rules, rules, rules

: Steve Rubel points us to a bit of silly PR spinning by the consumer electronics industry, trying to get ahead of whining about cameraphones by putting out a list of rules for camera phone use. As far as I know, nobody asked them. And it’s not exactly as if they’re enforceable: Break this rule and a flack will bug you.

4. Camera phones should not be used to take photos of individuals without their knowledge and consent.

Well, no, not in a public place. If you see, for example, a cop doing something wrong or a public employee lollygagging, you don’t need to go up and ask their permission before taking their picture and distributing it — anymore than a news photographer would.

2 responses to “Rules, rules, rules”

  1. DSmith Avatar
    DSmith

    It doesn’t have anything to do with whether it’s a cop or a public employee.
    Every person has a right to take a picture of anything they darn well please in a public place, and that includes fellow citizens in that public place. It’s part of your First Amendment right. Yes, I realize that right has been abridged recently for security reasons. It’s still a right; the abridgement just hasn’t been litigated yet.
    Note that your almost unlimited right to *take* a picture doesn’t say anything about what you may *do* with the picture – like place it on the Internet, for example. You may or may not have the right to do that (it’s complicated and unsettled law).
    But taking photos? Pure First Amendment.

  2. Jon Marcus Avatar
    Jon Marcus

    A bit of an overreaction here. No one (except Jeff) is saying these are “rules.” The page linked says it’s a Code of Conduct to “…to help educate consumers about proper etiquette and safe operation…” and presents some “voluntary guidelines.”
    You don’t like those guidelines? Don’t follow them? As Jeff said in another context, if you don’t like it, change the channel. And this is even easier. If you don’t like it, don’t bother reading it.