Competing interests

Both competing interests

  • your right to control the use of your image and
  • the legitimate interests of the state or other persons

have to be balanced against each other, and a fair balance has to be found. There have to be sufficient arguments as to why the interests of others outweighed your rights and the other way around in the particular case.

Balancing process

The following aspects should be assessed within the balancing process:

Method & circumstances

The method of taking the photo and the circumstances in which it was done

Was the picture taken with, or without, your knowledge and consent? If it was taken without, was it possible to obtain your consent to being photographed? Even if you consent to the taking of a picture, this does not mean that you have automatically agreed to its publication. In such a case, your consent should be obtained separately before publication. Consent may not be required if the image includes numerous persons and it is not possible to identify them (for example, where a large public demonstration in which you have participated has been photographed).

Did the photographer use illicit means, for example, by secretly taking photos of you sunbathing in your garden? In such a case, the photos were not only taken without your knowledge and consent, but the level of intrusion into your private life has also been extended.

Context

How well known is the person concerned and what is the context of the situation?

Can you be considered a newsworthy person? Have you entered the public sphere, to a certain extent, and been involved in a situation with a public character? In such situations, the level of protection for your private life is lower.

Intention

Intention for the photo’s use

If the photo was published, please continue with the following questions.

If the image was taken without an intention to publish it, the photographer’s plans for the future use of the picture should be balanced against your right to control the use of your image.

Public interest

Contribution of the photo to a debate of general interest

Does the image refer to a situation or event which raises particular interest in society? The wider society has the right to be informed about situations and events of general interest, for example, political issues, crimes, catastrophes and public demonstrations. In these situations, your right to control the use of your image has to be balanced against society’s right to be informed.

Prior conduct

Prior conduct of the person photographed

This criterion is only relevant if you have previously revealed private information and photos to the press. In such a case, you have showed your positive attitude towards having your private life discussed in the media and the level of protection of your private life is therefore lower. However, the mere fact of having cooperated with the press on previous occasions cannot serve as an argument for depriving a person of protection against the publication of a photo.

Publication

Content, form and consequences of the photo’s publication

Has the photo been published in a context where the adjacent information may lead to misunderstandings? Have you been depicted in a degrading way? Section 17 of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia states that no one’s honour or good name may be defamed. If publication of a photo may defame your honour, dignity or reputation you may have the right to claim damages in a civil matter.

Has publication caused you mental distress or harmed you in any other manner? In that case your right to privacy has probably been breached particularly severly.

How popular is the publication or the website where the photo was published? The larger the presumed readership the more severe the breach of your privacy.

Human Rights Guide

A European platform for human rights education