You are Caught on Camera

There is an interesting report today on My Paper (the Chinese free newspaper). By the way, I am still getting My Paper delivered together with my "main" papers, so I am still able to enjoy my daily read of My Paper without having to queue at MRT Station. Oh dear, I have digressed again.

Well, the report was about conflicts caused by aggressive "paparazzi". These "paparazzi" are not the reporters with an astute sense of newsworthiness and with their professionally-looking high-tech cameras. These "paparazzi" are ordinary people like you and me or anyone around us. Their tools range from camera phones to digital cameras. When they encounter unhappy incidents, they will take out their cameras and start shooting the antagonist who may retaliate with their own cameras as well. To some, this can constitute some form of harassment. One may get upset over the incident, but will shrug it off as an unfortunate event. To others, the heated aggression can result in physical assault.

The legal consultant opined that the people whose pictures have been taken without their consent often cannot take any legal action against the photographers.

With the prevalence and the general affordability of digital cameras, be it standalone or as a feature of mobile phones, many own and even bring along their cameras everywhere they go. To be more paranoid, one can walk along a street and has his photo being taken unknowingly. In addition, his photo may even be published in a public medium again without his knowledge. When you caught people staring at you, normally you will immediately wonder if you have dirt on your face. Now you will wonder if there is an unflattering picture of you posted somewhere in the internet.

For those who guard their privacy, this can be seen as a severe intrusion. For those who crave public attention and even stardom, this will be an avenue for gaining publicity. Regardless, to prevent the worst side of you being shown to the rest of the world, this means that one will have to ensure that he is at his best in a public place all the time. Sigh! This really sounds like we are losing more and more freedom.

Smile, you are on camera!