Last Updated on 04/12/2013 by Chris Gampat
UPDATE: According to Pop Photo, the bill is unofficially dead.
While the image here may not be the most artistic in the world, many like it may soon become the way of things in Vermont. Bill H 233 was brought to my attention via a post on Reddit. This may lay the framework that could, ultimately, change the photography world in the United States as we know it. Bill H 233 A Vermont house bill, introduced by Representative Nuovo of Middlebury states
“A
N ACT RELATING TO MAKING IT ILLEGAL TO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH OF A PERSON WITHOUT HIS OR HER CONSENT, OR TO MODIFY A PHOTOGRAPH OF A PERSON WITHOUT HIS OR HER CONSENT, AND TO DISTRIBUTE IT”
This bill seems to have broad implications, which I do not think were considered. It does not only affect street photographers and people on vacation. It has me wondering, will journalists not be allowed to take pictures at public events? How will it be enforced? How much taxpayer money will be wasted on this?
Many images created of people without their permission have become iconic because they were shot in public. For example if a law like this had been in place in the past, many of our ‘This week in Photography History’ post would not exist. I hope that this bill will not be passed. A law like this should not be a priority with even more pressing issues happening, around the country, now.
What do you think of the issue?