Photography banned?

[vheissu]

Ok, I now this technically applies only to Britain, but I found it still unnerving: it seems that there is a new move, which could become a law (though I don't know the exact procedures for that), for restricting photography in public places, unless you present an 'ID' card which allows you to do so.....
This could make street photography and documentary photography against the law if you're not a registered professional.
I'm suspecting this is has some link to 'anti-terrorist' action....in some way, I don't know....but I do believe it's verging towards paranoia really...

There's a petition online against it, but I don't know if that could really help

[B-Mental]

Seems like the world is into banning things...telling everyone what to do. Maybe its just me. I suppose that you can go to jail if you photograph someone smoking or eating foie gras.

[Poetess]

Well look, I think it`s because of the security? Lately, we are facing alot or terror.
It`s not about Photography, i`m really against banning it... But alot of people claim taking photographic pictures while the purpose behind their deed is to take photos of some places and perpetrating the negative aspects on it.
I really hope you got what I mean.. Because I noticed it in Lebanon too, they come with some IDs and show them to the security men protecting an area to allow them taking pictures..

[vheissu]

I got a bit suspicious and did a google search and found a lot of discussion about this topic:

There doesn't seem to be specific info on this and it can be read a bit ambigously > is it about restricting photography of public places, because of say, people getting information from such photos (so post-cards should be banned as well?!) or maybe photographs which could be used for other motives (children's photographs especially) OR about having these so called ID cards?
And what exactly is meant by public places....surely you can't ban everything from being photographed!

I haven't found anything on official news saying that there is any such ban going on at the moment....so, did a bit more digging and finally found a statement by the guy who actually started the e-petition.

I must say, it's quite funny, if not hilarious, how things are read and understood...though I made the very same mistake based on my friend's words, who is quite keen on photography
So, to sum it up, there's no government ban...it was merely the guy's (Simon Taylor) opposition for the requirement of ID cards for professional photographers which he found has been asked too often and may lead to amateurs not being able to photograph certain public spaces. And the subsequent creation of a 'uber class' of photographers

If anyone's interested, here's a small article about it: http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/Thousands_sign_photo_rights_petition_news_110170.h tml

I'm amused at how things can be (mis)interpreted!!

[Neovia]

I heard that it's illegal to take photo of Eiffel tower at nighttime and publish it. Is it true?

[Mark F.]

It's illegal to publish pictures of most monuments without paying some kind of royalties to someone.

[Neovia]

What the heck is the purpose of that? o___O

[Mark F.]

Making money for the state. It's so that, if you're making a film in Paris for example you practically cannot avoid paying royalties because the Eiffel tower inevitably gets in the frame. Even if there's a novel or something that's recognisable in the background of a shot you have to pay royalties, I guess it's pretty much the same laws for published photography. As you're making a buck people want to get their piece of the pie.