September 28, 2005
Phone crash photos 'invading privacy'
Snap-happy amateur photographers armed with cellphones are invading the privacy of crash victims and capturing disturbing images, police warn. [stuff.co.nz]
"Inspector Gary Knowles said that at a fatal crash in Buckleys Road, Linwood, this month, hundreds of people watched as emergency services tried to help seriously injured victims.
The Linwood crash claimed the life of Rangi Wano, 16, and put four others in hospital, including a couple and their baby boy. Wano was in a car with friends that had sped away from police before the accident.
Wellington lawyer John Edwards, who specialises in privacy cases, said there were
However, in certain situations the courts could support a legal bid for damages from someone whose image was published after a horrific accident without approval, on the basis that publication was offensive.
"You can view it (the use of cellphones) as an extension of rubbernecking. You try not to turn around, but it's hard to drive past an accident without having a look," he said."
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