February 6, 2006
Police officer orders camphone shot to be deleted
This story and the one posted after it, illustrate one of the new issues surrounding camera phones, law enforcers or authorities, demanding cameraphone shots be deleted, based on privacy issues or civil rights. So then, what then about a citzen's right to document abuse or record his side of a story?
Citizen.co.za reports that South African motorist Andrew McGill was arrested and issued a ticker by an officer for ‘obstructing his right of way’.
"He wore no name tag, and would not tell me his name, so I took a few photographs of him. He then informed me I was not allowed to photograph him. “At his insistence I deleted the photo, as he offered to confiscate my phone,” said McGill.
MPD spokesman Wayne Minnaar said traffic officers had the right to confiscate cameras or cell- phones if they had not given permission to be photographed. “No person is allowed to be photographed if he doesn’t want to be. That is the law as he/she has the right to privacy,” Minnaar said.
Related: - Student accused of violating bus driver's civil rights for recording his behaviour
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