The Phenomenon of Street Photographers, IPB University Sociologist Calls It a New Form of Social Control
The phenomenon of street photographers has sparked controversy over the line between freedom of expression and individual privacy rights in public spaces.
IPB University Sociology Expert Dr Ivanovich Agusta believes this phenomenon challenges society to balance freedom of expression in public spaces with respect for individual privacy, in accordance with legal and social norms.
“Normatively, being in a public space often means a person is fair game to be photographed. However, from a sociological and ethical perspective, the boundary between public and private space is not black and white,” he explained.
According to him, society is now beginning to establish new social norms: photography in public spaces is allowed, but it must be ethical. “Public awareness is increasing. Many citizens refuse to be photographed without permission. This is a positive sign of the emergence of new social control,” he said.
Not a Value-Free Zone
He gave the example of vulnerable groups such as the homeless, who use the streets as their daily private space. This means that public spaces are not value-free zones. Social sensitivity is needed when interacting with others in these spaces.
“Being in a public space does not automatically eliminate a person’s right to privacy. Even though the location of the photograph is public, there is still a norm that individuals have the right not to be made the subject of a visual image without their consent,” he said.
In addition, he also highlighted the emergence of the commercialization of photos on artificial intelligence (AI)-based digital platforms. In some cases, the people photographed have to pay for the photos taken of themselves.
“This is a new form of commodification of social life where daily activities are turned into merchandise. A person’s self-image is treated as a product to be sold,” he said.
This phenomenon, he said, is in line with the concept of digital capitalism described by Shoshana Zuboff, namely an economic system in which personal data is used as a high-value commodity for corporate profit.
Quoting Susan Sontag’s thoughts, he added that every act of photographing is a form of power because the photographer determines how a person is represented.
“In the modern context, when photographers take pictures of pedestrians without their knowledge, there is an asymmetry of power between the photographer who sees and captures, while the subject is exposed without control,” he explained.
In response to this, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) reminded photographers to comply with the Personal Data Protection Law (PDP Law) and photography ethics.
“This issue requires not only enforcement, but also education. Regulations must be accompanied by digital literacy so that the public knows their rights and photographers understand their responsibilities,” he concluded.
The balance between freedom of expression and respect for privacy is key to ensuring that photography can flourish as an art form without compromising human dignity. (AS) (IAAS/NRA)
