When is it (generally) inappropriate to publish pictures of celebrities in public places? It's fine
to publish them if you’re a media organisation, but not if you’re a law
enforcement body.
Why?
Because the DPA
requires data controllers to restrict their processing activities to those
activities that the data controller has registered with the ICO. Newspapers, by
their very nature, process personal data for journalistic purposes. This is not
a purpose that law enforcement bodies have previously declared.
In accordance
with our data protection laws, it can be appropriate for newspapers to publish
pictures of celebrities in public places, particularly when the celebrities
are currently promoting shows that feature themselves. So, the recent pictures
of Messrs Clarkson, Hammond & May, currently touring Australia with their
motor show, leaving an Australian Airport, are fair game because they were
taken by the paparazzi. But, recent pictures of Michael Mcintyre, currently
promoting his UK comedy tour, leaving the Capital Radio studios in
London’s Leicester Square, are not fair game, because they were taken and
published by the police.
It's a funny old
world. I assume the officer who thought it would be fun to publish Michael
Mcintyre’s picture on the National Police Air Support Unit’s Twitter account
had no idea how the privacy Taliban would react. Well, that officer does, now.
The Surveillance Camera Commissioner and the Information Commissioner have both waded into the debate,
so we can be confident that the National Police Air Support Unit will be tweeting fewer pictures of celebrities in future.
But all is not
lost. The paparazzi will continue to be out in force, and a grateful public
will still be able to feast their eyes on snaps of celebrities who, often
working hand-in-hand with the paps, provide arresting images
of themselves.
Sources:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3162499/Jeremy-Clarkson-touches-Perth-James-Richard-Hammond-prepare-Australian-leg-live-shows.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33535578
.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33535578
.
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