Facebook, the Internet, & Privacy

[Jeremy D. Scott]

In this thread (http://www.naznet.com/community/showthread.php?166-James-Diggs-Nazarene-Elder), I was able to directly link to an image on a Facebook page (Mid-Atlantic District's page). I didn't download the picture and then repost it...it's actually hosted on FB and I could link to it without permission.

This made me think about my own pages, particularly our church's (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Quincy-MA/New-England-District-Church-of-the-Nazarene/120416437973123?ref=nf#!/pages/Hingham-MA/North-Street-Community-Chapel/57226705887?ref=ts). If we have a picture of an event that has a child in it, are we not liable for that picture? Do we technically need parental consent to post that picture? Consent of everyone in the picture?

[Ryan Scott]

If we have a picture of an event that has a child in it, are we not liable for that picture? Do we technically need parental consent to post that picture? Consent of everyone in the picture?

Probably. Although I think leaving the picture without captions so the people are anonymous can be a way out of this issue.

[Susan Unger]

In this thread (http://www.naznet.com/community/showthread.php?166-James-Diggs-Nazarene-Elder), I was able to directly link to an image on a Facebook page (Mid-Atlantic District's page). I didn't download the picture and then repost it...it's actually hosted on FB and I could link to it without permission.

This made me think about my own pages, particularly our church's (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Quincy-MA/New-England-District-Church-of-the-Nazarene/120416437973123?ref=nf#!/pages/Hingham-MA/North-Street-Community-Chapel/57226705887?ref=ts). If we have a picture of an event that has a child in it, are we not liable for that picture? Do we technically need parental consent to post that picture? Consent of everyone in the picture?

This is why I made my church's FB page a closed page. Only ones I approve of can see the pictures. And I try to mantain proper security settings as well. Any pictures that I have posted to that page I have made it so that only friends may see.

[Kevin Rector]

This made me think about my own pages, particularly our church's (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Quincy-MA/New-England-District-Church-of-the-Nazarene/120416437973123?ref=nf#!/pages/Hingham-MA/North-Street-Community-Chapel/57226705887?ref=ts). If we have a picture of an event that has a child in it, are we not liable for that picture? Do we technically need parental consent to post that picture? Consent of everyone in the picture?

I am not a lawyer so take this for what it's worth... but my understanding is that you only need consent of people to photograph them if they are in a situation where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. If someone is outside there is no reasonable expectation of privacy so you can photograph them, and then publish that photograph.

So, it is reasonable to assume that in a public setting like a church meeting there is really no reasonable expectation of privacy and you may photograph and publish those photographs.

That's the legal side, but there is another consideration is that you probably don't want to make your church folks mad. You know them and I don't so I don't know how that would play out for you.

[Mike Schutz]

We ask folks to sign off on photos whenever they participate in any event for which we post pics, such as VBS, Caravan, summer day camp, etc. In our preschool and after-school program, we have several students involved in custody battles, restraining orders, etc, and we need to be very careful to protect them.

[Craig Laughlin]

I am not a lawyer so take this for what it's worth... but my understanding is that you only need consent of people to photograph them if they are in a situation where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. If someone is outside there is no reasonable expectation of privacy so you can photograph them, and then publish that photograph.

So, it is reasonable to assume that in a public setting like a church meeting there is really no reasonable expectation of privacy and you may photograph and publish those photographs.

That's the legal side, but there is another consideration is that you probably don't want to make your church folks mad. You know them and I don't so I don't know how that would play out for you.

This was/is my understanding as well. We are very open with our cameras at events and encourage people to go to our web page and Facebook to see the pictures. We do this at community invite events as well. In fact I usually walk around at these events with a camara in hand taking pictures of people. I find it to be a great ice breaker with folks from the community. In my experience to date people love this. I suppose if someone ever had a concern we would just pull down any pictures of them.