4 ms·

so it’s illegal to film someone on a street in switzerland and post it online?

by kmlx 3y ago

wongarsu 3y ago
This is the norm in Europe. Filming a crowd is fine, making a picture of the Eiffel tower with people around it is fine, filming a specific person and publishing it without their consent generally isn't. "Generally" because obviously it gets more interesting in the specifics of when it is ok, but those are exceptions similar to how copyright has exceptions.
- JustBreath 3y ago
  I guess that explains the distinct lack of public freakout videos from Europe.
  - remix2000 3y ago
    I think that's more related to the fact that most Europeans normally speak languages other than English.
    - JustBreath 3y ago
      A bit difficult to post them when they are illegal, no?
      - remix2000 3y ago
        Not at all actually. There is a constant stream of compromising material posted online in Europe. It's a huge problem actually, because it's notoriously hard to get such stuff taken down, as the authorities simply do not care.
- randombits0 3y ago
  “THE TOWER ILLUMINATED Controlled use The various illuminations of the Eiffel Tower (golden illumination, twinkling, beacon and events lighting) are protected. The use of the image of the Eiffel Tower at night is therefore subject to prior authorisation by the SETE. This use is subject to payment of rights, the amount of which is determined by the intended use, the media plan, etc.” https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/business/use-image-of-eiffel-tower https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/business/use-image-of-eiffel...
timeon 3y ago
Sounds reasonable.
- criddell 3y ago
  I wonder if there are exceptions for photographing police and other government officials? Seems like there should be. And what about the reverse? Are police body cams allowed?
  - sschueller 3y ago
    Same applies, you can film the police but you can't post it online as they as individuals have a right to privacy as well. Misconduct is handled by the appropriate authoritative which will view such tapes but not by the Public although such footage will end up in the media with the police officer's identities anonymized. Police body cams are permitted but the handling of the recordings is very strictly controlled. The same applies to public cameras such at train stations etc. There are clear signs indicating they are present and the footage has strict retention policies. In many cities now it is also illegal for these camera to do any type of face recognition. In only very extreme situations can the government share footage with the media where a person is identifiable.
    - criddell 3y ago
      That's interesting. It must make it a lot more difficult for reporters trying to capture images and videos of newsworthy events. It seems like exposing corruption could be a lot more difficult if regulatory capture ever happens.
      - wongarsu 3y ago
        It gets more country-specific the deeper you get into it, but usually there are exceptions for people in the public eye (like politicians or celebrities), events of sufficient public interest, etc.
    - LocalH 3y ago
Mashimo 3y ago
If it's similar to Denmark or Germany, then yes. More or less. If you use a wide angle lens form afar and the person in question is just a small blimp in the background it can be ok. At least that is how I understood it. But you can't just walk up to a person and take their photo. You also can't have a security / doorbell camera that records public road. I think if you watch it live, that part can be recorded. But no 24/7 background recording of public spaces. I like it :)
sschueller 3y ago
Yes, you would need to make them unidentifiable by blurring their face, anonymizing their voice and any other feature that may identify them. Wide shots of crowds are generally ok in public, the issue is focusing on specific people. For example someone having a mental breakdown in public. You also can not have door bell or private cameras pointing to public streets/roads. You have to ensure your camera only records your property and you are required to post a sign that a camera is installed.
- criddell 3y ago
  So having a dash cam in your car isn’t allowed?
  - magicalhippo 3y ago
    At least here in Norway the issue isn't taking the photo or filming, but publishing it in any way.
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
  - SomeDog76 3y ago
    https://eu.cobra.com/blogs/news/are-dash-cams-legal-europe https://eu.cobra.com/blogs/news/are-dash-cams-legal-europe Not everywhere in europe, simmuliar applies to Doorbell cameras. https://community.security.eufy.com/t/background-blur-for-the-video-doorbell-privacy-laws-europe-belgium/1442497 https://community.security.eufy.com/t/background-blur-for-th...
  - WelcomeShorty 3y ago
    Jein (German word joke that combines Ja & Nein / Yes & No). The short answer is: they are allowed BUT. There are many privacy rules that prohibit the actual use of these recordings (not limited to publishing but in court as well). The assumption of privacy is very strong here.

so it’s illegal to film someone on a street in switzerland and post it online?

by kmlx 3y ago

so it’s illegal to film someone on a street in switzerland and post it online?

This is the norm in Europe. Filming a crowd is fine, making a picture of the Eiffel tower with people around it is fine, filming a specific person and publishing it without their consent generally isn't. "Generally" because obviously it gets more interesting in the specifics of when it is ok, but those are exceptions similar to how copyright has exceptions.

JustBreath 3y ago
I guess that explains the distinct lack of public freakout videos from Europe.
- remix2000 3y ago
  I think that's more related to the fact that most Europeans normally speak languages other than English.
  - JustBreath 3y ago
    A bit difficult to post them when they are illegal, no?
    - remix2000 3y ago
      Not at all actually. There is a constant stream of compromising material posted online in Europe. It's a huge problem actually, because it's notoriously hard to get such stuff taken down, as the authorities simply do not care.
randombits0 3y ago
“THE TOWER ILLUMINATED Controlled use The various illuminations of the Eiffel Tower (golden illumination, twinkling, beacon and events lighting) are protected. The use of the image of the Eiffel Tower at night is therefore subject to prior authorisation by the SETE. This use is subject to payment of rights, the amount of which is determined by the intended use, the media plan, etc.” https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/business/use-image-of-eiffel-tower https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/business/use-image-of-eiffel...

timeon 3y ago

Sounds reasonable.

criddell 3y ago
I wonder if there are exceptions for photographing police and other government officials? Seems like there should be. And what about the reverse? Are police body cams allowed?
- sschueller 3y ago
  Same applies, you can film the police but you can't post it online as they as individuals have a right to privacy as well. Misconduct is handled by the appropriate authoritative which will view such tapes but not by the Public although such footage will end up in the media with the police officer's identities anonymized. Police body cams are permitted but the handling of the recordings is very strictly controlled. The same applies to public cameras such at train stations etc. There are clear signs indicating they are present and the footage has strict retention policies. In many cities now it is also illegal for these camera to do any type of face recognition. In only very extreme situations can the government share footage with the media where a person is identifiable.
  - criddell 3y ago
    That's interesting. It must make it a lot more difficult for reporters trying to capture images and videos of newsworthy events. It seems like exposing corruption could be a lot more difficult if regulatory capture ever happens.
    - wongarsu 3y ago
      It gets more country-specific the deeper you get into it, but usually there are exceptions for people in the public eye (like politicians or celebrities), events of sufficient public interest, etc.
  - LocalH 3y ago

Mashimo 3y ago

If it's similar to Denmark or Germany, then yes. More or less. If you use a wide angle lens form afar and the person in question is just a small blimp in the background it can be ok. At least that is how I understood it. But you can't just walk up to a person and take their photo. You also can't have a security / doorbell camera that records public road. I think if you watch it live, that part can be recorded. But no 24/7 background recording of public spaces. I like it :)

sschueller 3y ago

Yes, you would need to make them unidentifiable by blurring their face, anonymizing their voice and any other feature that may identify them. Wide shots of crowds are generally ok in public, the issue is focusing on specific people. For example someone having a mental breakdown in public. You also can not have door bell or private cameras pointing to public streets/roads. You have to ensure your camera only records your property and you are required to post a sign that a camera is installed.

criddell 3y ago
So having a dash cam in your car isn’t allowed?
- magicalhippo 3y ago
  At least here in Norway the issue isn't taking the photo or filming, but publishing it in any way.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
- SomeDog76 3y ago
  https://eu.cobra.com/blogs/news/are-dash-cams-legal-europe https://eu.cobra.com/blogs/news/are-dash-cams-legal-europe Not everywhere in europe, simmuliar applies to Doorbell cameras. https://community.security.eufy.com/t/background-blur-for-the-video-doorbell-privacy-laws-europe-belgium/1442497 https://community.security.eufy.com/t/background-blur-for-th...
- WelcomeShorty 3y ago
  Jein (German word joke that combines Ja & Nein / Yes & No). The short answer is: they are allowed BUT. There are many privacy rules that prohibit the actual use of these recordings (not limited to publishing but in court as well). The assumption of privacy is very strong here.