Boundaries for Permissible Filming in Public

Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) what avenues of recourse are available where an individual deliberately films an identifiable person in public, continues after that person has objected, and subsequently publishes the footage online; and (b) whether there is a need to raise public awareness on the boundaries of permissible filming in public.

Individuals who feel harassed or threatened by persistent filming may have avenues of recourse, depending on the circumstances, the nature of the conduct and what is subsequently done with the footage. While filming another person in a public place, including after the person has objected, is not inherently unlawful, the Protection from Harassment Act provides recourse against harassment and stalking, and the Penal Code contains offences relating to voyeurism and the distribution of voyeuristic images or recordings. Where there is reason to believe that criminal conduct is involved, affected individuals should lodge a Police report or call "999" if immediate Police assistance is required.

Where the footage is subsequently published online, additional avenues of recourse may apply. Under the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act, victims of specified online harms, such as online harassment, doxxing or online stalking, can seek relief from the Online Safety Commission, which can issue directions to stop the online harm or to mitigate and prevent further harm to the victim.

Members of the public should exercise responsibility and give due regard to the wishes and privacy of others, particularly where a person has clearly objected to being filmed, and when deciding whether to publish identifiable footage online. The Government will look into whether more needs to be done to raise public awareness of responsible conduct when filming in public.