I often saw some people in my friend list were tagged in beautiful candid pictures. But these photos always happened to be by some restaurants, clubs, bars etc. I tried to look up if these people were friends with or known to the owners or the photographers, but NO. In fact, when I looked up these restaurants or bars, I found so many pictures like that.
Moreover, I couldn’t help but notice that in every album, there were more photographs of women than men and they were mostly dancing and in some cases, seemingly unaware of the camera.
Months later, I went to a restro-bar at Hauz Khas after my graduation to celebrate with my friends. Initially, people were sitting and drinking. But Bollywood songs tend to drag people from their seats to the dancing floor.
When people started dancing, I saw someone at a distance with a professional camera. I saw him taking pictures in our direction. I immediately became conscious. That’s when it struck me, that these pictures could go on social media and I didn’t want that.
The photographer then started taking pictures in another direction and I got busy dancing with my friends.
Now when I ponder upon it, I realize that in a way my consent was violated. It felt creepy!
I might have had no qualms had the photographer asked me for a photograph. There were such group photos that I saw on those Facebook page. Absolutely okay!
But all other photographs of people dancing, drinking or smoking (mostly women), were seemingly unaware of it.
Imagine the paparazzi culture that celebrities have to deal with!
PRIVACY
You are clearly violating someone’s privacy by clicking pictures without consent. Although legally, there is no law that protects people against such acts of voyeurism. But once if the photograph is made public and misused, then one can approach the authorities to file a case.
What happens when your photo goes public and is misused?
Only in this case can you file a case of stalking under section 354D of the Indian Penal Code. The law clearly states that if any person “follows a woman and contacts, or attempts to contact such woman to foster personal interaction repeatedly despite a clear indication of disinterest by such woman”
It further elaborates, “Whoever commits the offence of stalking shall be punished on first conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine; and be punished on a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine.”
Such an act violates the article 21 of the Indian Constitution by trampling over someone’s right to privacy.
NOW WONDERING, WHY MORE PICTURES OF WOMEN?
If you ask the people who own these restaurants or the managers, the reason for these pictures is pure ‘marketing’ so they can attract more customers.
Try and look at the subtext here! How exactly are they marketing their bars? By taking photographs of unsuspecting guests and visitors, most of whom are women. Why women mostly? They serve as a ‘bait’ to attract more crowd.
Take a minute to digest how disturbing this is!
Given that our society has a certain perception of ‘such’ women. People perceive them as being ‘easy’ which is the ‘way’ they try to attract the crowd.
And if you try to counter this point by saying that people don’t visit restaurant and bars after looking at the photos of the women on their Facebook pages, you totally missed my point! THINK AGAIN!
Photo Credits: Google Images
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http://edtimes.in/2016/10/heavy-fine-jail-for-drinking-in-public-in-delhi-will-it-work/