Anti terror laws

Following this mornings furore at pictures of a certain anti-terror chief in Downing Street revealing secret papers to long lensed press photogs, when will all photography be banned and/or strictly controlled under the 'Big Brother' act?

Makes more sense to ban all incompetent anti terror chiefs to me.

Just as well we have professional journalists recording the incompetence of our protectors and guardians. The media also heeded requests from authority not to publish any pictures which would compromise the security operation.
david

Just a thought:

If a terrorist can become an airline pilot, could one become a press photographer?

I'll agree with that.

No need to become photographer thay have Google street view

Google street view is wonderful. I love it. I have used it a lot for planning my holiday in the US at the end of the month.
Plus looking up places I used to live in the UK to see what my old homes look like now .

Hardgravity has raised a very worrying point; one which I had'nt really thought of when I initially heard about this blunder - this is'nt going to be good news for photographers who like to practice their hobby in London, or indeed the rest of the UK.

I'm already very worried about the situation when I hear of normal folk being arrested or just stopped and interrogated by police.

This is'nt going to help one bit as it will undoubtedly fuel support against the camera weilding public.

....Even though you can take pictures discreetly on a 'phone they still think terrorists use DSLRs to get info.

Next to get banned could be Street view....

I'm not in favour of Street View as I think it does invite spying from the comfort of your own home & takes the availability of images to a new level. For instance you can see into gardens, somethng that previously you would have to get on a ladder to do. I'm sure people would be entitled to ask questions when a photograher is acting suspicious & rightly so. But that's a long way from taking street pictures occcasionaly in full view. I see what has happened recently as a good thing. Otherwise who watches the watchers?
Caz

As things stand we can all take pictures of whatever and whoever we like as long as we are standing on "publicly accessible land". One of the tests is whether or not we have paid to gain entry, in which case it is probably private land and different rules apply.

Google can do this too, and they are exercising their right to do so. Any restriction on Google may well end up being a restriction on us, so be careful what you wish for...

Good point, John.
Andy

I do take your point & it's very valid. I'd hate to live somone where I couldn't take pictures without fear of punishment. But is there a line in the sand? What about looking in through windows for instance? Google does this. Perhaps it seems ok to us when it is a celeb but it is less appealing when it is your own front room. I think that there is a difference between photo journalism or reporing for instance & generally being nosey. I'm not sure that a restriction on Google would naturally mean as restriction on others. But hey! it's good to have open discussion. Hardgravity you have certainly prompted debate & that should be seem as a good thing in a democratic country.
Caz

Thanks Caz, what worries me is the growing number of reports about innocent people with cameras being stopped from their democratic right of taking pictures.

The police seem to be targeting the wrong people EVERY time. Where did the London bombers get their info?
Not from DSLR usage but by visiting the targeted areas.

Until the anti-terrorist people start using their brains we seem stuck in this spiral towards an Orwellian future.

I'm listening to 'PM' on BBC R4 right now and I have just heard David Blunkett MP and ex-Home Secretary suggest that photography should, perhaps, be banned in certain areas. What has shocked me is the amount of listeners who have responded supporting this view. Talk about shooting the messenger! I find this gravely worrying both as an infringement of my civil rights but a gag on freedom of speech.

On a lighter note, if the powers that be realise how superior Pentax optics are we'll be top of the banned list.