Policing Photography

Here in the U.S., some citizen groups complain that their rights have been infringed upon by the Patriot Act, and now similar incidents are taking place in the United Kingdom.

A Greek tourist was arrested in April for taking pictures in the London Underground, and, more surprisingly, a Kent man was detained for snapping shots of a fish bar last month. Both were suspected of terrorism.

Photographers in Britain have had enough. A new group, I’m a Photographer Not a Terrorist, is protesting the country's stringent counterterrorism measures. Their website provides a "bust card” that explains photographers’ rights and police powers.

You can read about British photographers' protests at the BBC's Viewfinder blog.

(Photo by Edgley Cesar via Flickr/Creative Commons)