Comments on: London’s Metropolitan Police Launches Anti Photography Propaganda Campaign

By: An amalgamation of sundries and miscellany. » Blog Archive » Man alive

An amalgamation of sundries and miscellany. » Blog Archive » Man alive — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:21:41 +0000

[...] I try to be a careful man who attempts to objectively consider how things come into being, and have never wanted to be considered a conspiracy nut. But after reading this account and countless others, reading the observations of others, and generally trying to have an ear to the ground, I have strong convictions that we as a country and a global community are but a few generations away from a society incredibly similar to the one set forth in the movie Brazil. I don’t mean this as hyperbole in any sense of the word. I truly believe that we’re quickly and unchangeably heading in the direction where posters like “Suspicion Breeds Confidence”, “Trust in Haste, Regret at Leisure”, and “Don’t Suspect a Friend, Report Him” will be commonly seen. Heck, posters like this are already appearing. [...]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 06:18:00 +0000

I saw this advert in the London Metro yesterday and I was stunned. Fergus mentioned the “Ministry of Truth”, and that was my first thought as well. I’ve taken many pictures of CCTV cameras before, mainly because I find them interesting, I guess I should be turning myself in so the authorities can decide if I’m a terrorist.

The full range of adverts is designed to install fear of everything and everybody. It’s almost like the Daily Mail itself designed the campaign!

If your interested, the full range of scare mongering posters can be found here:
http://www.met.police.uk/campaigns/campaign_ct_2008.htm

Stay afraid, stay very afraid…

By: Andrew Barczak

Andrew Barczak — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:23:00 +0000

"Quite honestly I doubt that many serious photographers would worry about having to obtain a permit to photograph. The people that I see taking exceptions to this whole process is the wannabe amateurs who consider themselves god gift to photography (did I hear the name Thomas)."

This is just about the most disturbing thing I have heard since 9/11 happened and this quest for the illusion of "security" started. Please tell you are not serious. A background check for the right to use a bloody camera?? It a camera for christ's sake, not a handgun.

I find statements like this positively scary. How far have we fallen that someone would even suggest requiring a security check to take a picture. This is very disappointing to to hear from you dibss.

By: sfoist

sfoist — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:55:00 +0000

SFO BART station has this exhortation to call authorities whenever you see anything “unusal”. San Francisco has about the most unusual people I’ve ever seen, and I’d like to see what happened if the authorities actually got calls whenever anyone saw something “unusual”.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj266/polamit/bdetectsmall.jpg

By: Fergus

Fergus — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:28:00 +0000

Lord above! Thanks for bringing attention to this. Terrorists also take notes! Be suspicious of odd-looking people with notebooks, or cameras, or just eyes – you know the types, shifty-looking, brown skin, that sort of thing. Report any and all suspicious activity, also suspicious inactivity, to the Ministry of Truth for full investigation.

Thank you citizen, the Computer is your Friend.

By: wSchwach

wSchwach — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 02:14:00 +0000

I actually like that poster. It is so surreal that it looks to me as a hoax of an art-collective or something and should be treated like that. I want this on the cover of my photobag or printed on a t-shirt.

But what i like most is the general concept behind this campaign: Never ever be without fear. A paperclip can be an instrument of mass destruction in the wrong hands. Ever be afraid - everybody may want to harm you.

w*

By: Luis Cruz

Luis Cruz — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:03:00 +0000

Want to make sure you get harassed while shooting? I've written a little tutorial on how to shoot (photographs) like a terrorist. I'm so sick of being harassed for simply bringing around a camera. By the way, I apologize in advance for the sarcasm.

By: JeffH

JeffH — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:56:00 +0000

One question that came to mind while reading dibss’s post is, why would or should photography require any type of permit any more than picnicking or tossing a Frisbee in the city park would. I do not get what there is about the activity of capturing a photograph that is threatening or odd. Might we also require artists and poets to get permits while in public also? After all, an artist creating an oil painting of the London Bridge is pretty threatening, just as a poet inspired by the natural beauty of the city park or the cityscape who sits on a park bench and composes a poem would be equally threatening using the twisted logic of the London Metro Police.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:51:00 +0000

Hmmm… these things do nothing for your security and well-being really.. If anything they make it worse on a day to day basis, because they just add to the culture of fear and make the place you live in even less desirable to live in…

By: nickp

nickp — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:17:00 +0000

I was going to comment on dibiss’s rather peculiar comment, especially with regard to his/her obvious belief that amateurs shouldn’t even be thinking about trying to improve their photographic skills when there’s people like him/her around, so what’s the worry!

However Phil has very accurate summed up everything I was going to say so I’ll just reiterate the comments about checking out the Bruce Schneier articles which clearly define the difference between real security and the theatre of security. This definitely falls into the latter.