Harry and Meghan hoped that the paparazzi in the United States would keep a low profile compared to the United Kingdom. The opposite is true: the couple was chased through the streets of New York this week. Can that just happen?
“Ruthless”, is how British Prince Harry and Meghan Markle described the chase in New York. According to the taxi driver who drove the famous couple around, it was not too bad. A member of Harry and Meghan’s security team says a “chaotic” situation did arise. Bystanders were also at risk from the reckless driving style of the paparazzi.
The press has a lot of freedom in the US. The right to freedom of the press is enshrined in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. This also includes taking pictures in a public environment.
Each US state has its own privacy protection laws. For example, in New York, the place where the chase took place, there are a number of laws in force that protect people’s private lives. That way, people can get a punishment if they intentionally pursue others.
Ontvang meldingen bij belangrijk nieuws over het Britse koningshuis
Other stars successfully went to court
Such laws may conflict with the right to freedom of the press. Because how do you determine whether something falls under freedom of the press, or whether you are breaking a law?
There are a few scenarios where you break a law. Think of pictures taken of children, taken in toilets or under women’s skirts. These types of snapshots can result in a penalty for the maker.
The most important rule: people’s safety must not be compromised when taking a photo. If we can believe Harry and Meghan, this was the case. So it cannot be ruled out that they will still go to court.
Many other celebrities have successfully done that before. For example, George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston and Adele, among others, were proven right by the judge when they filed a case for illegally taken photos.
Changed laws after Diana’s death
The incident with the prince and the Suitsactress reminds many people of what happened to Princess Diana, Harry’s mother, in 1997. During a car chase with photographers in Paris, the car crashed containing Diana, her boyfriend Dodi Fayed, their bodyguard and the driver. Only the bodyguard survived.
The accident and death of the princess also affected the law. For example, the US state of California enacted an anti-paparazzi law. As a result, photographers are not allowed to enter the private property of stars. In 2005, paparazzi were not allowed to have physical contact with the people they want to portray.
Harry and Meghan just came from an awards gala in New York. There is plenty of photography at such a gala. It is therefore not surprising that paparazzi take pictures of the stars as they leave the party.
Of course, it’s another thing to deliberately rush people in the hope of scoring a quick snapshot. Harry and Meghan demand that the relevant photo press agency hand over the photos to them. They do not want the images of the chase to be distributed, although some American media have already done so.
The photo press agency has refused to do so for the time being. “Third parties cannot simply claim someone else’s property, as kings might,” the agency said.
Harry en Meghan versus de pers
Een van de redenen dat Harry en Meghan zich terugtrokken uit het Britse koningshuis en verhuisden naar de Verenigde Staten is het indringende karakter van de Britse media. Hun naam stond op elke tabloidkrant en er werd vernietigend over het bekende koppel gesproken.
In de staat Californië, waar ze nu wonen, vinden ze niet de rust die ze hoopten te vinden. Zo begonnen Harry en Meghan in 2020 een rechtszaak omdat er een drone met camera boven hun huis vloog. De fotografen hoopten hiermee een glimp te vangen van het zoontje van het stel, Archie.
In Californië is dit verboden. Bovendien mogen er niet ongevraagd foto’s van minderjarigen worden genomen. Harry en Meghan hadden de zaak kunnen winnen, maar troffen een schikking met het betreffende fotopersbureau.
‘Create the news, but don’t become the news yourself’
2023-05-20 03:04:57
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