Invasion of Privacy, Harassment, Internet

[BEEDEE]

You might want to try and take up the issue with Facebook. See their Terms: http://www.facebook.com/help/?guide#!/terms.php?ref=pf

There are several items in Privacy and intellectual property that might apply in this case and have Facebook remove the post.

Brian

[Pleater]

You could, if necessary, start a rumour that you will pay ten dollars for an unflattering photo of your troublesome co-worker.......

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[NewGuise]

Can your friend please tell us which part of the Act covers photographs?

According to the auto-reply I just got, he's travelling, and inaccessible. Our communication on the issue mostly pertained to the particular situation, which involved posting photographs (from an international academic project) on an website, so I can't tell you much, but I remember that he'd been surprised to discover that - thanks to some particular European ruling on ths topic - "data" for the purposes of this act (which he had not read prior to being told it applied) included photographs. The group/crowd thing posed a problem for one picture (several identifiable individuals, or a generic 'crowd'?) but the others were clearly of individuals and he was required ("the boss says...") to gain written permission from them before posting the photos. I never heard what was decided re the group shot.

[Tobus]

The thought keeps coming to the back of my mind that the company has some kind of responsibility in or ownership of this photo because it was taken by an employ of another employ on company time and property in a non-public place.

Just a thought that keeps bugging me.

I tend to agree. If they have a complaint before them that drags them into it (as opposed to, say, a picture she took out in public that was not taken on company time), they might be very willing to do something about it. Not out of any concern for you, probably, but out of concern for their liability.

I would be very careful with threats of legal action and such. That kind of thing can backfire if the employer thinks you're the type of person who can cause them legal trouble. Make sure they understand that you're asking them and only them to address the situation for now. If nothing is done, then take it to the next step.

[O'Callaghan]

Apparently she was disciplined for wearing a mini-skirt, and she is contending that your kilt is as short as the offending garment. Assuming that this isn't true, and I think it's unlikely to be, then what's the problem? All you have is someone acting the fool.

Our office dress code assumes that men will be wearing trousers and makes no provision for anything else. For Monday-Thursday it lays down that men shall wear smart trousers and a collared shirt, with other rules instead for women, and then it says that on Fridays both genders have the additional option of wearing jeans and/or athletic shoes. Try to get any interpretation out of rules like that to allow a man to wear a kilt! Strictly speaking, even when wearing jeans on a Friday I have to wear a shirt with a collar, but a woman could wear a T-shirt with her jeans, which hardly seems fair.

[GG]

Not in the UK. If I take a picture, I own the copyright - that is the law. If I take a picture in a place where photography is forbidden, I could be punished for doing so, but I would still own the copyright.

Yes, and it is rather strange. In all other countries, I know of, people are legally protected against their image being published without their permission.
Well, it is forbidden to take pictures of yuor bank notes - unless you have got a permission. But living persons, no. They are free hunt.
Changes might be coming, I have read. The EU has rules for such things.

Greg

[GG]

Why can't we all get along?

Later in the day it was revealed by another co-worker that she had put the picture up on her facebook page. I am recognizable completely in the picture. The bully complains that she was disiplined for wear short skirts and
that I am allowed to dress like this (my recognizable photo being posted as an example).

Jim, if you are not living in the UK, publishing your picture without your consent is illegal.

However, if you are not shown in a very unfavorable situation, you might in stead thank her for informing "the world" that you are wearing kilts.

Within many companies (in Europe) it is NOT allowed employees to use especially Facebook during the working hours - it is regarded like stealing, and in many organisations it is reason enough to throw people out.
(Perhaps valid reasons are not necessary in your country?).

Rules or not, it should not be very difficult to trace her activies on Facebook. If rather many, inform management.

She might be a bully, but obviously she couldn't wear her skirts as short as she liked to. You and others might have overestimated her power within the organisation?

Good luck!
Greg

[morrison]

woof
The way I sees it is,
"She has dropped her fat in the fryer, her goose is about to be cooked, and soon she'll be put out to pasture in her long term future.
arf"

[Coinneach]

Here is something else to consider...when I go into the site, there are specific rules about bringing cameras. In secure areas, one must sign into security that one is bringing a camera in and what it is to be used for. I am a contractor and occasionally bring a camera in to take product shots for graphics. Check to see if your site has such a policy. It sounds like you might have been in an area where pictures are not to be taken randomly.

I recommend you take a screenshot of her Facebook page where the picture and comments can be seen. Can it be shown that the purpose is to defame you and/or the company you work for?

Definitely document any comments pro or con that come as a result of her posting the picture of you, whether those comments come from inside or outside the work place.

[Cherub]

You could, if necessary, start a rumour that you will pay ten dollars for an unflattering photo of your troublesome co-worker.......

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

Oh Anne, that is a kettle of worms that i don't think anyone would want to open