I'm annoyed at seeing camera phones in the street. Most of the time I
see someone with a camera phone, they have the lid open and they look
like they're taping everyone who walks past.

It would be great if someone could tell me how to avoid being photographed.

1) Is there a device that can trace the location of digital cameras
and alert you when they are in use?

2) a) Is there any way to trace a photo once it's been uploaded to the
internet? E.g. by doing a search on a colour pattern that might appear
in the photo?
    b) Could you use some sort of 'steganographical clothing' to make
the search possible, e.g. a baseball cap with a distinctive design?

3) How do you stop the photos from being taken in the first place?

Thanks in advance.

Rgrds,

AfternoonJames

PS I will tip $20 if you really can solve this problem.

I'm not up on the current laws, but as a former full-time
photojournalist and commercial photographer, I used to know what was
legal to photograph. I doubt it's changed much since the mid-to-late
1990s.

? If you're out in public, you can be photographed. No one needs to
ask your permission. You can ask me to stop (and if I'm a nice person,
I'd agree), but I can keep any photographs already taken.

? If you're in your home, you can be photographed if you're in view of
a window or if you're in your yard. But a photographer can't go onto
your property to do it (the photographer has to stay on public
property, like a street or sidewalk), and the photographer can't use
extraordinary means--for example, using a telephoto lens or climbing a
tree.

? I would assume--this is a pure guess--that were I to take your photo
in public, I'd have every right to put it on my non-commercial web
site. There's no question that I could send it to friends in an e-mail
("Look at this great photo I took...").


That's not what you want to hear, I know. But there are limits to what
a photographer can do with your unauthorized photograph.

? The person who takes your photograph without your permission cannot
use it for any commercial use. That is, it cannot be used in
advertising. It can be used in journalism, however.

? While it can be shown in a gallery or a museum--in the guise of art
photography--the photographer's rights blur at this point, since the
photograph can't be used in any advertising for the show.

? The photographer can't depict you in an especially embarrassing act.
If I caught you picking your nose, for example, I couldn't show that
photo anywhere, because it's not your normal look. (Sorry for a gross
example, but it's a classic example for photo students.)


I noticed that in question 2a you spell "colour" with the British
spelling. Where do you live? What I've said applies to photography in
the United States (Canada's laws are--or were--similar, I think). The
UK and Australia might have different laws; I don't know.

I'll leave your technology questions to a computer guru.

Best wishes,
dtc

Cameras are not new.  Why the sudden paranoia over cameras attached to phones?

In some places, such as locker rooms (YMCA) picture phones have been
banned and must be left at the front desk.

In Japan they passed a law that picture phones had to make a clearly
audible sound when taking a picture.  There was an epidemic of
"upskirt" photo shots prior to the law.  A lot of young women (Jr.
High, and High School) have to wear skirts as part of a school uniform
and the subways are very crowded during rush hour.  You can see where
I am going with this.

Some places in Japan have subway car(s) just for women due to the
groping problem.  They really don't have much enforcement of laws
against it.

I have to say that when I first read afternoonjames's post I thought
he was just being silly (sorry james), but then with scubajim's I can
see where the problems lie.

I'm sure we've all had spam at one time or another showing bodily
parts. I use a sauna a lot and I have often seen a few in there doing
what I assumed to be texts. For all I know my parts could be on show
on the internet somewhere. (though I can't imagine mine would be of
much interest to anyone).

I think I'll mention it to the sauna owner even though I think I'll
feel silly saying it, he might at least be aware enough to watch what
members are actually doing with the phones.