What to do if someone takes a picture of you without permission?

Asked by: Prof. Norval Ullrich  |  Last update: March 19, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (12 votes)

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 should I do if someone takes a picture of me without my consent?

Contact the police. You can file a police report against the person who posted the photo and statements. The police may investigate the matter and take action, such as issuing a citation or filing criminal charges. File a civil lawsuit. You can sue the person who posted the photo and statements for damages.

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

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.

What to do if a random person takes a picture of you?

You always could ask them to stop. If they continue, you might possibly have some case of harassment. But at that point it is not criminal. Contact a local police, if you feel you are being harassed. They can advise you if you have a legitimate case. Ignore, move away, and only then check legal options.

Can I sue someone for taking a picture of me without consent?

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.

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

28 related questions found

Can you press charges for someone taking a picture of you?

Not clear you have any claim to make that would result in criminal charges. As a general rule anyone in the world is free to take pictures of you or your family or your home if there is no reasonable expectation of privacy--which there isn't if you can be seen from a public access (like a sidewalk).

What to do if someone has private 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 just take a photo of you?

There is no law preventing people from taking photographs in public.

Is it illegal to take pictures of a minor without consent?

Your child has the same right to privacy as an adult does. No one can photograph or film your child in a location where he or she believes himself or herself to be alone, even if alone with his friends. For example, if the child is in a sandbox at a public park, a photographer can take his or her picture.

Is it illegal to post a picture of a random person?

In California, it is generally legal for people to take photos of others in public spaces without their consent. However, posting these photos online to make fun of someone's medical condition could potentially constitute cyberbullying, harassment, or stalking, depending on the specific circumstances.

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.

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.

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

Facebook provides a number of ways for people to report imagery that they believe violates their privacy. The quickest way to report abuse is by using the Find Support or Report links located near the photo or video that you want to report.

What is it called when you take a picture of someone without them 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.

Can you sue someone for posting a video of you without your permission?

You might successfully sue another party who has intruded on your expectation of privacy, such as shooting a video while you are at home or in another private setting where privacy is expected by every individual at the setting. Another party cannot shoot a video to use your name and likeness without your permission.

Is it illegal to take pictures of someone's text messages?

The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) is a federal law that makes it a crime to access someone else's private communications without permission. It covers cell phones, computer use, email, social media accounts, and other types of electronic communications.

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 I sue someone for using my photo without permission?

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 I sue someone for taking pictures of my child?

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.

Can someone randomly take a picture of you?

It is generally OK for people to take photographs at any public place or any private place that they own or rent. Being present on someone else's private property generally requires the property owner's consent to take photos.

Is it legal to take a picture of someone's driver's license?

Ordinarily, yes. A person's driver license photo will usually be protected by state laws that prohibit unofficial uses by government entities, as well as use by private/commercial organizations. But, in an emergency situation, or if you are wanted by police, that photo can be plastered everywhere by the media.

Is it illegal to save someone's picture without permission?

Even if they didn't know it's illegal, it's copyright infringement. There is even more confusion about giving credit. It does not matter if someone reposted your photo but gave you credit – it's still copyright infringement.

Is it illegal to take a picture of someone and share it?

Every day, new photos are uploaded to social media websites, often without the explicit consent of everyone in those pictures. However, sharing photos of someone else becomes an illegal act when that person sent you the photo with the expectation it would remain private, and the photo was intimate or sexual in nature.

How do you remove an unwanted person from a photo?

These are great tools for erasing people from your photos:
  1. YouCam Perfect.
  2. AI Object Remover by Phot.AI.
  3. Adobe Photoshop Fix.
  4. TouchRetouch.
  5. PhotoDirector.
  6. Remove Object - Touch Eraser.

What to do if someone is threatening to post pictures of you on Facebook?

If someone is threatening to share things you intended to be private and asking you to send them money or anything else, you have options:
  1. Contact local law enforcement and report this to them.
  2. Report this person to us.
  3. Block this person.