Can I sue someone for taking pictures of me in public?

Asked by: Ruben Sauer  |  Last update: November 20, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (9 votes)

You could bring a lawsuit by accusing the defendant of an invasion of privacy by appropriation of your likeness, a process known as right to publicity. This law allows you to control and profit from the commercial use of your image, name and persona or your identity.

Can you sue someone for taking a picture of you in public?

It can be challenging to file a lawsuit against a stranger who takes your photo while you are on public property. However, you may have a case if this person took your picture on private property. A restaurant, bar, or event posts your photo.

What can I do if someone takes a picture of me without my permission?

Photos taken illegally, on private property, or with defamatory intent may require a personal injury attorney. Images with minors or illegal pornographic content may require the government's help. Contact your local law enforcement.

What is it called when someone takes a picture of you without permission?

Invasion of Privacy: If the photo was taken in a way that violates your right to privacy, such as by using a telephoto lens to capture intimate moments from afar, you may have legal recourse.

Is taking pictures of someone without consent assault?

Taking nude or semi-nude videos or photographs of you without you consent is usually a criminal act if the images are taken in a place where you can reasonably expect to have privacy. For example, if someone places a hidden camera in your bathroom or bedroom and captures you, this is almost always illegal.

Can you sue if someone posts a video or photo of you without your consent?

28 related questions found

Can you sue someone for having inappropriate pictures of you?

You can now bring a new type of federal civil lawsuit.

This lets you bring a civil action in federal court against someone who shared intimate images, explicit pictures, recorded videos, or other depictions of you without your consent (15 U.S.C. § 6851).

Is sharing a friend's personal photo illegal?

Privacy violations: Sharing someone else's private information without their consent, such as their home address, phone number, or personal photos, can be a privacy violation.

What is it called when people take pictures of you without you knowing?

However, if the intent is that the subject is absolutely unaware of being photographed and does not even expect it, then such photography is secret photography, which is an extreme case of candid photography.

What to do if someone has photos of you?

You need to:
  1. report the picture to the website and let them know the situation.
  2. untag yourself if possible - this is where you remove a tag identifying you in the picture.
  3. contact the person who shared the image and ask them to take it down.
  4. get a list of everyone or every site that has shared pictures.

Can someone post a picture of me on Facebook without my permission?

If someone took a photograph of you in a public setting, they are probably not in breach of your privacy by publishing it. But they could be in breach of your privacy if they did not get your permission to publish a photograph of you in your home, at your workplace, or they make it look like you do business with them.

Is it illegal to take a picture of someone without their permission in Canada?

In Canada, it is NOT illegal for anyone to take a picture or video of another person in a public space without their consent no matter what the age of person whose image is being captured. This includes situations where the subject of the photo is a child.

Can you force someone to delete pictures of you?

In the United States, statutes protecting privacy and intellectual property rights can be used to make someone take down photos of you under certain circumstances.

What to do if someone posted a picture of you without your permission on Instagram?

We worked with the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative on this list of things that you can do and organisations that you can contact for support and advice.
  1. Document the post. You may need a record of the post if you decide to take further action. ...
  2. Report an Instagram post. ...
  3. Unfollow or block the person who posted it.

Can you sue someone for ruining your public image?

Like most personal injury cases, judicial proceedings in defamation lawsuits allow for the recovery of economic and non-economic damages. If you prove your cause of action for defamation, you may be entitled to recover your actual damages. The amount typically depends on the harm to a person's reputation.

Can you sue someone for filming you without consent?

California. California requires the consent of all parties, with a minimum consent being the notification that the parties are being recorded in a confidential conversation with an audible beep at particular intervals throughout the recording. Without permission, an individual can face imprisonment and fines.

Is it illegal to take a picture of someone without their permission in the UK?

There is no law preventing people from taking photographs in public. This includes taking photos of other people's children. If you are taking photographs from private land, you need to have the land owner's permission.

What do I do if someone took a picture of me?

If you or your family members believe that your privacy rights have been violated, contact a personal injury attorney near you who can provide legal advice and help determine what recourse you may have.

Can you stop someone from taking pictures of you?

If you see someone taking your photo without your permission, it's your right to ask him or her to stop. If you're undressed and someone is taking your photo, put in a call to the police. Not only are you making sure your rights are intact, you're also making the dressing room a little safer for the rest of the world.

What to do if someone is taking photos of you?

Taken without permission

In some situations, there may be state or territory laws that prevent someone photographing your private activities without your consent. Contact the Attorney-General's Department in your state or territory for more information or the police if you are concerned for your safety.

Is it illegal to take pictures of random strangers?

Through litigation, public education, and other forms of advocacy, the ACLU has defended the rights of photographers and all camera-wielding individuals to document freely. When in public spaces where you are lawfully present you have the right to photograph anything that is in plain view.

Can I sue someone for posting a picture of me on social media?

You could bring a lawsuit by accusing the defendant of an invasion of privacy by appropriation of your likeness, a process known as right to publicity. This law allows you to control and profit from the commercial use of your image, name and persona or your identity.

How do you report someone for posting pictures of you?

You may want to contact local law enforcement to see if it's illegal to post things like this in your state or country. If you want to pursue legal action, you may need a screenshot or other record of the post.

Can you go to jail for taking a picture of someone without their permission?

It is legal to photograph or videotape anything and anyone on any public property, within reasonable community standards.

Can someone post a picture of me without my consent?

The Copyright Act of 1976 in the United States protects copyright owners. If someone posts your content (such as a photo) without your permission and without proper attribution, they may be liable for copyright infringement.

Do you need consent to share a photo?

Yes, sharing someone else's photo on social media without permission can lead to legal consequences under copyright law. The law, which aims to protect the rights of the original creator, is clear in stating that the creator of a photograph holds the exclusive rights to its distribution and use.