Hidden Video Recordings And Privacy

Covert filming, as a way of news coverage, means that a reporter does not reveal his identity, or pretend to be other identity, or cancel his real intention, and get the news materials in a covert way. The pictures or videos we can see on the news media are the typical representatives of the materials provided by the news reporters through the means of covert filming and covert recording. The materials can vividly show the dark side of the society and the illegal acts, so the public are in favor of adopting this method to know the true story behind the curtain.As a coin has two sides, covert filming has negative influence. The covert coverage can easily intrude the individuals' right to privacy. Especially with the development of science and technology, all kinds of equipment such as miniature cameras are easily available all around us. The right to privacy is vulnerable. The protection of the right to know, the right to privacy and the press freedom is a troublesome question. This paper falls into four parts:In part one, the author defines and compares the related concept such as covert filming, covert coverage. The author thinks that covert filming means that a reporter does not reveal his identity, or pretend to be other identity, or cancel his real intention, and get the news materials in a covert way. This concept is of great realistic significance. After that, the author gives an introduction to the features, types of covert filming and the legal regulation on itIn part two, the author discusses privacy and the right to privacy. Covert filming has great influence on the individuals' right to privacy. So the correct understanding of right to privacy is of great importance. This part serves as the theoretical ground of the latter part. The author thinks that the right to privacy is the ability of an individual or group to stop information about themselves from becoming known to people other than those they choose to give the information to.In part three, the author discusses the conflict between the covert filming and the protection of the right to privacy. After a profound research, the author puts forward that the underlying reason of the conflict is the conflict between the press freedom and the right to know. The author also discusses the forms and reason of...