Thread

1. ElProlactin · 1790239566 · focus · HN ↗

   This hypocrisy is not at all surprising. The modus operandi for these people has been rules for thee, but not for me for quite a while now.

   1. Almondsetat · 1790240173 · focus · HN ↗

      Feel free to point out the hypochrisy. I'll remind you that sharing a video you took of someone without their consent is not the same as recording them and keeping the video strictly for yourself

      1. ElProlactin · 1790240915 · focus · HN ↗

         This person was not trespassing on Meta property and nothing indicates that he was harassing employees who refused to be interviewed. It is perfectly legal in the Netherlands to record people in public places.

         You don't need someone's consent to record in public, and if any of the employees objected to the publication of the recording, they could consult with an attorney about a portrait rights claim. Such a claim should be adjudicated by a court, not Facebook.

         And let's be clear about the context here: these types of glasses are used by "content creators" to do street interviews that are published online, and they're also used to record all sorts of junk/nonsense ("pranks", pickup artist BS, etc.).

         Meta doesn't seem to have a problem with content recorded with these glasses being posted on its platforms, even when it's objectionable, because it's literally everywhere. The only problem here, obviously, was that he was recording Meta employees.

         1. lionkor · 1790241090 · focus · HN ↗

            It's illegal to record people in public spaces in Germany. Not sure how NL is important here, did I miss something?

            1. pas · 1790241219 · focus · HN ↗

               > Roel Maalderink visited the company's Amsterdam office
            2. rithdmc · 1790241345 · focus · HN ↗

               > It's illegal to record people in public spaces in Germany.

               That's wild. In Ireland, there's no expectation of privacy in a public place, so you can record without issue.

               1. Helmut10001 · 1790242116 · focus · HN ↗

                  Yeah, Germany is different here. I am not 100% sure, but in Germany it is allowed if you are not focusing on any particular individual person. It is difficult to argue in absolute terms, which is why most consider public photos forbidden completely (unless for private/personal, very narrow use). Nowadays, in Germany, it has helped me to consider everything forbidden, unless it is explicitly allowed somewhere.
               2. bonoboTP · 1790243054 · focus · HN ↗

                  It's because of history. That's why Germany also resisted Google Street View initially.

                  1. rithdmc · 1790244996 · focus · HN ↗

                     That's pretty understandable, and I've no particular issue with it (although I'm now aware I broke quite a few photo- and video- laws when I was last in Berlin ;) )
               3. mortarion · 1790243186 · focus · HN ↗

                  In Sweden for instance it's a bit in-between (unless the law has changed). You're allowed to film in public if you're using a non-stationary camera, but stationary cameras require a permit.

                  1. rithdmc · 1790244707 · focus · HN ↗

                     That's an important caveat. We kind of have something similar, in that if you install CCTV, and if it captures an area where people would expect privacy (ie, looking through a window, or into someone's back garden ... which has its own caveats around being a public place or not) you have a right to have that area removed from video coverage.
                  2. sandos · 1790246890 · focus · HN ↗

                     Yes, but youre not allowed to use it commercially afaik. Even a youtube clip which is monetised is commercial, I guess.
               4. codedokode · 1790263553 · focus · HN ↗

                  That would be the right thing. You want to film something, you don't use people passing by as a free extra and don't publish the details where and with whom they were going online. Is is just some American thing that they do not care about feelings of other people.

                  If you have any respect, don't film other people or at least blur them.

            3. ElProlactin · 1790241503 · focus · HN ↗

               It wasn't in Germany, and my understanding is that in Germany, the issue isn't the video, it's the recording of the audio conversation.

               Anyway, still not applicable in the Netherlands.

               1. mgoetzke · 1790241904 · focus · HN ↗

                  In Germany it would also be about the video.

                  I cant just take a photo of a person or even car on the street and just share it online unless its clear the car or person is not the central point of the photo standing alone.

                  Only few exceptions on that

                  1. ElProlactin · 1790242037 · focus · HN ↗

                     And? This wasn't in Germany.

                     But you raise an interesting point: if this would be against the law in Germany, why is Facebook waiting for these glasses to be banned? It never should have made these available in Germany, and should be using technical means to ensure that they cannot function inside of Germany's borders.

                     So it's just more proof of the hypocrisy. Meta doesn't care about the privacy of the plebs.

                     1. sandos · 1790246822 · focus · HN ↗

                        Are these constantly filming without user control? How about regular cameras, just ban them?
                  2. jeltz · 1790245603 · focus · HN ↗

                     This did not happen in Germany! If my grandmother was a bike she would have two wheels.
            4. martin_a · 1790246398 · focus · HN ↗

               That's not true in that simplified form.

               It's perfectly fine to take pictures of the Brandenburger Tor for example and post them online. There will likely be people in that picture but as they are not the main aspect of the image, it will be fine.

               It's something different if you zoom in on somebody in that scene and he becomes the main point of the image. Then his personal rights overwhelm the right to document public spaces.

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.