Is Hunting Photos, Taking Sneaky Photos a Violation?

Presently, the extraction and dissemination of personal stories of individuals are not unfamiliar in the media, especially on social networks. In Vietnam, the trend of photo hunting and secret capturing follows the paparazzi style, treating it as a daily job for livelihood, stirring public curiosity and press attention. Gradually, personal lives, secrets, and relationships of many individuals become topics for community gossip and discussion.

Some photographers, through a few captured images, embellish stories to make them more appealing and lively. They may add some minor details to the story to attract public opinion. These embellished stories turn the victim into a famous person and bring their image closer to the public, but do they realize the uncontrolled consequences behind it: impacts on the mental health of involved individuals, impacts on their current job, and family life. Consequently, the reputation and honor of the victim are severely damaged, with societal pressure increasing due to gossip and rumors.

Even journalists, at times, engage in acts of publishing others' private lives without permission, which is considered an invasion of personal privacy.

The Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam stipulates:

"1. Everyone has the right to inviolability of personal life, personal secrets, and family secrets; has the right to protect their honor and reputation. Information about personal life, personal secrets, and family secrets are legally secured.…. No one is allowed to open, control, or unlawfully hold correspondence, telephone conversations, telegraphs, and other forms of private information exchanges of others."

And the Civil Code 2005 stipulates:

"1. An individual has rights over their own image.2. The use of an individual's image must be approved by that person; in case the person has died, lacks civil act capacity, or is under fifteen years of age, it must be approved by their father, mother, spouse, adult children, or legal representative, except for the case of state or public interest or as provided by law.3. It is strictly prohibited to use another person's image that infringes on the honor, dignity, or reputation of the person depicted."

Thus, every individual has the right to their image. Therefore, photographing and using an image without consent that infringes on the dignity, honor, and reputation of the person is considered a violation of the law.

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