Is it illegal to videotape someone in England without their consent?

Answer 1

Not allways.

In Canada there is a leagel principle called "Reasonable expectation of Privacy"

So what makes it an issue is what you fim and why.

If you take Naughty pictures of Lady's with out thier knowlege, this is a problem

If you take pictures to do something else against the law, = Jail Time in addition to the other thing.

If you publish the Video without the persons in it permision, Not cool.

I use a Camera in my car all the time in case of crash and such, 100% ok as long as I do not publish the Vid in a way that Identifies the people or cars filmed.

Answer 2

The precise answer depends on the jurisdiction you are in. Different states and different countries have their own views on privacy.

Generally, you are allowed to take a picture or film them without their permission in most cases. However, publishing the material without permission is normally controlled. If the person can be recognized, they may have the right to claim fees or damages from you. It may be a criminal offence to publish without permission, against their wishes or for malicious purposes.

There are often exceptions such as celebrities who are normally expected to have pictures taken and published, for news worthy reasons or for the public good (namely news broadcasts or similar).

The safe way is to never publish any picture with a recognizable person in it unless you have their permission and preferably in writing as well.

Answer 3

No, it is not illegal, though there are some areas for concern when children are the subjects, with many locations (schools, leisure facilities) making their policy clear.