Harrassed by Garda taking a photo

You've the right to take photos in public spaces, and don't need their permission. So you were right to tell them so, and they correctly backed down.

On the other hand, they have the right to drive past and look at you too. I understand it may feel intimidating, but there's probably little you can do about it.

From the comfort of my desk at home, I'll bravely say that I would have taken another photo of them as they did so, but we all know that's probably not true. I'm actually not comfortable at all with the whole notion of street photography, I do think it's kind of invasive even if it's fully legal.

OP. How come you felt intimidated but don't have any concerns that the gardai may have felt the same?

If you live in the same town as them and have attracted their attention you may need to make sure you have everything above board. Don’t let your tax or NCT run overtime.

In reality though he’ll have forgotten about that interaction in a day or two.

Why would anybody take pictures of complete strangers ?

And without their permission ?

I would find this extremely rude, ignorant and entitled behaviour on the part of the photographer.

Especially when photos can be manipulated, taken out of context, and copied and stored eternally.

While the Garda war incorrect he should have informed you that you are not allowed to post or publish the photographs.

any concerns for the dignity of the homeless person involved, how do you know what interaction was happening ? the shop who likely called as the has in their door way ? or was your own self righteousness more important .

I wonder at your version of the conversation, too . If i saw some one taking a picture of me while working i may approach them and ask them why, generally to be met with a self important response like your self, acknowledge that some people are just not worth engaging with and walk away, How dare they look at you mind !!! the fascists

Its not like there are multiple aggressive nutter groups left and right wing as well as criminal who specifically target garda both personally and professionally for their own reasons

Alsore your comment on body cams. Gardai have been calling for them for years but are being prevented bu the ICCL and GSOC.

Harassment of gardaí over policing of water protests investigated – The Irish Times

Partners of Garda superintendents recorded and harrassed, conference hears – The Irish Times

Garda F390: Tributes flow for tragic Dublin officer Alan Leblique hailed 'gentleman and credit to his profession' - Dublin Live

Gardaí 'bore the brunt of public anger over public health restrictions' (irishexaminer.com)

You were looking for trouble, simple as!

you went out of your way to antagonise gardai who were doing their job as public servants..

and your actions here, rude, ignorant, and intimidatory. Nobody wants any fooking strangers just randomly walking around photographing them. And I don’t care what laws you want to quote.

and you then have the gall to accuse them of harassment. A lot of strangers would have hit you a smack..

Many posters are entirely missing the point of the OP. Given the very public nature of their work and the potential outcomes of a Garda lying, Gardai should have zero expectation of privacy during their day-to-day work. In fact, they should be routinely recorded, and the GRA themselves have been requesting bodycams for years.

That might be to protect the Gardai themselves, but they protect the public too. (once they introduced alongside laws to make them mandatory as opposed to optional, and stiff penalties for deactivating them)

A Garda doing their job professionally should have no issue with being recorded. If they do, they're not in the right job.

Bodycam footage wouldn't be posted on social media though. That's the difference, too many people think everyone and everything is fair game for social media entertainment these days, whether it's people photographing car accidents, people falling around drunk, whatever. Yes, if you're in a public place there's little you can do about it but that doesn't mean you have to be comfortable with it.

If your motivation to whip out your phone is a sudden rush of anticipation of how many reactions you might be able to muster up on social media, then keep it in your pocket IMO.

Am i not allowed to disbelieve you ? because your not very believable .

I wonder if you were asked to stop but declined due you your own reasons what ever they may be.

He told you that you didn't have his permission to take his picture. How could that be untrue ? either you did or you didn't.

what were your intentions apart from to provoke a reaction that you didnt get ? and ya you seem to be only one you are concerned about in this interaction,

see above links for ref

While there is no law against taking a photograph in a public place there is rights as to where it can be published/posted.

There is reasonable expectations of privacy even in a public place. While you were entitled to take the photograph the Garda had rights to control the use of his image.

What dose this mean. If he stated that under the data protection act he was advising you that you had data relating to him (his image) and he did not wanted it posted on social media then of you continually posted and published it he could have a case against you under the data protection act.

There is interesting interpretation's of what can and is allowed to be published in a data sense.

https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/women-who-eat-on-tubes-stranger-shaming-social-media-1403346-Apr2014/

For instance if you took and published a photograph of a TV liciencee inspector or a Traffic warden in the line of there work and published it on social media it would be construed as harassment of a person carrying out there duty. Similar with a bin man or publishing photographs of a homeless person.

As a press photographer you can make the claim that the photograph is in the public interest. However similar if you published a photo identifying and naming a TV licence Inspector during his day to day work and published his name it might not be considered to be in the public interest. If you photographed him after giving evidence after a court day then it would be construed as public interest.

If @chewed actions were construed to be an action to harass or intimidate a Garda ( multiple publishing on social media with inappropriate text added) then the actions could have data protection issues.

If @chewed only took them to make a complaint to the Garda Ombudsman then there would be no issue

You make a very fair point. I guess I can't really square my thoughts on the matter. And I do love the results of (some) street photography. I've no problem at all taking photos of some random surfers falling off their boards in Lahinch, but wouldn't ever dream to take photos of the very same people sitting out side Spooneys eating an ice cream. One for me to ponder, alright.

The Garda may not be personally comfortable with it, but they do have to accept it, given that they work primarily in a public place.

Nuance in any such law to outright ban photographing of Gardai just wouldn't work, so it would end up being a total ban IMO. I know it's a bit of a false dilemma, but if it was the case of

A) total ban on photography of Gardai, vs.

B) making some Gardai feel uncomfortable, and prosecuting those who do actually harass Gardai,

the only real option is B.

Did you miss the part about the two drivebys? How much persistence do you need?

Some extreme reactions to the OP here - including some allusions to physical violence?

My understanding of the law is that people can not have an expectation of privacy in a public place. Anybody is free to take a photo of anybody else in a public place. It is the subsequent publishing of such an image that can be problematic https://michaelodohertybl.com/photography-and-a-persons-right-to-privacy/#:~:text=It%20is%20generally%20accepted%20that,taking%20of%20it%20per%20se..

However, normally a bit of common sense and polite interaction can sort out most issues. I take the odd street photo, sometimes asking permission, sometimes not.And I have taken a few photos of Gardai, sometimes involved in moments of conflict, sometime simply eating an ice cream. No big deal and all legitimate. However, on every occasion where the Gardai made any comment, it has always been to state that"you can't take photos of me"

All Gardai who commented, incorrectly stated the law. It was always meant to intimidate. This is not poor training but a sign of an approach that is akin to bullying or threatening. An "us" and "them" approach. Their role is to uphold the law. Not falsely interpret it. How can they expect to win public support or to expect the public to trust them?.

In non Gardai situations it is quite different. If someone objects to me taking their photo where I ask, I simply say OK, give them a smile and move on. If I did not ask them and took their photo without their knowledge, and they subsequently objected, my reaction would entirely depend on their approach.If they were civil, I would usually show them the image I took - it usually ends up with me sending a copy of it to them! If they still wanted it deleted and asked politely, I would politely agree.

However, if they were not civil, I would take a different approach. The more obnoxious or demanding they become, the less likely I would be to comply with their wishes. After all, that's all they are, their wishes, not their rights.

However, I would not take photos of someone in a compromising position, just to exploit it. That would not only be "nasty", it would also be illegal. Unless they were breaking the law and it was for journalistic purposes and in the general interest (I do not include tabloid "titillation" to be in the public interest).

Nor would I take photos of children without the parents permission, and I would always show these images to the parents, offer to send them to them, and delete any they did not like.

Finally, if someone were to get really stroppy and threaten me, I would always delete the images. I can un-delete them later. And I always shoot to 2 cards at the same time 😁

It was in photography when I posted earlier so I don't think so.

It has a catchy title to be fair!