Women in bikinis on public beaches in Helsinki attracts sometimes the photographing men. It is certainly allowed to photograph in a public place but if other disturbed by what they do react lifeguards. At Hietaniemi beach has lifeguards once this summer invited a man to stop this and delete photos. Last week was a bunch of men in taking photos of women in bikinis on the sly at Solvik beach in the North Sea.
- They photographed other women in badräkt and I do not think it is okay. They chose certain men and shot them. The women did not themselves be aware of what was going on, says a woman who witnessed the incident.
She wrote about the event on Facebook and attached in which a photo of the men. They still can not be identified in the photo.
- At first I thought that the beach is a public place and that the well is allowed to photograph others there, but my kids were confused and wondered what the men are doing. Then I decided to do something because Solvik Beach is our Hemstrand and we are often there. I therefore took a photo of them, but I do not want them to be recognized on the photo, the woman says.
Lifeguards noticed what was going on?
- No, they were quite far away. The beach is long and they have a lot to do. I could certainly have reported it to them, but I thought it more efficient to shoot them, she says.
This law says
Under the law, everyone has the freedom of speech. Freedom of expression entails the right to express, disseminate and receive information, opinions and other communications without prior hindrance.
According to the journalist, the rules are allowed to photograph in a public place, that is a place where anyone can have access. For example, this bus and train stations, streets, parks, public places in shopping malls, libraries and public areas of hospitals and health centers.
In journalism rules noted, however, that even though you have the right to take a photograph, you do not have the right to publish it. It posted should comply with good journalistic practice.
Source: Finnish law and journalism rules
If other interference can lifeguards intervene
Santeri Nuorlahti, which is lifeguard on the beach in Solvik, has not heard about the incident.
- I think it is quite rare that that happens. It is rare that people surreptitiously photographed on this beach. Lifeguards are certainly aware of it happening.
How would you react if someone goes around on the beach and take photos?
- It varies from situation to situation, should first be clarified whether the person taking nature pictures or if the shooting other people. We then ask what kind of images it is about and what they're used to, says Nuorlahti.
Maija Virkkala are lifeguards at beaches in Hietaniemi and Lauttasaari and she knows about a case of surreptitious photographing this summer.
- One case we have had on the beach in Hietaniemi. In that case, intervened the claimant and the person who had taken the pictures deleted them at the request of the claimant. If the person becomes difficult, we call the police, but usually it usually resolve itself without police involvement, says Virkkala.
But it is allowed to photograph in a public place.
- Well, certainly you get to photograph, but if others find it distracting to have someone take pictures so we can ask the person to stop, said Virkkala.
Santeri Nuorlahti
Santeri Nuorlahti are lifeguards at the beach in Solvik.
Image: YLE / Christoffer Gröhn
"Selfie" is okay at the Aquatics Center
In contrast to the public beaches in Helsinki, there is a ban on photographing the Aquatics Center.
- The reason is that the former was a problem with adult men who photographed young children there, says Sari Tamminen, foreman at the Aquatics Center.
Tamminen says that the stadium is not any longer have that problem.
But it is also forbidden to take a "selfie", then a photo of herself?
- You may ask the claimant for permission first and then shoot. If other people see in the picture is fine.
