Photographing people - the law

I read on a different forum of someone who got into trouble with the Spanish police after photographing a group of girls in Flamenco costume. Apparently it is illegal to photograph anyone without their consent in Spain, and for children you must get parental consent, whether the photos are for publication or private use.

A link was provided to this wikimedia page providing a summary of the law in various countries.

Maybe some of you - especially street photographers, will find it useful. I don't know how accurate it is, so don't blame me if there are mistakes in it .

the UK being very ambiguous , find out after you take it.

UK law is quite specific. It is not illegal to take photos in public places, with or without people in the view. There are of course some qualifications such as photographing in security sensitive locations, or getting in the way at the scene of major incidents and impeding the emergency services doing their job.
Photographing children under a certain age without parental or teacher permission can be a problem but for a street photographer doing general views in a busy location that may have children in them this is unlikely to cause trouble.
David

Or is it the case that UK law doesn't specifically allow it, but rather does not specify it as not allowed ... ?

That's how UK law generally works Nigel

I was thinking this was more of interest when outside the UK. No-one wants to be arrested when travelling after all.

No its as I said - quite specifically. Photography in public places is NOT against the law. The Association of Chief Police Officers has made this quite clear on more than one occasion.
David

I understand that the situation in France is similar to Spain. A photographer needs the subject's permission prior to shooting, even in a public place.

Ironically Cartier-Bresson would find it almost impossible to produce his celebrated work today.

Do they have CCTV in France and Spain?

In Spain, as far as I'm aware, it's not illegal to take photos of people in public, if it were then it would be impossible to take any pictures in any city. It is illegal to publish photographs of the faces of minors without their parents' or guardians' consent, but I don't think it's illegal to take such photos.

I've never had any problems at all, though my wife tells me I shouldn't photograph people without asking their permission first, but in a crowded street what can you do?

Once should always exercise caution and common sense when photographing in public even in countries where there is no right to privacy in public spaces. I'd feel uncomfortable pointing a camera at people I didn't know anyway, I could never be a street photographer. My general approach is to wait until people in frame have moved.