Mobile computing technology has made incredible digital cameras readily available to most people. That means that you don’t have to pull out a camera or worry about buying film in order to take excellent photos. 

Unfortunately, sometimes the temptation to capture certain moments with a photograph could put you in a legally vulnerable position. The laws in Missouri include the right to privacy, which includes the right to decline to have your photo taken in a private or intimate moment. If you take photos of someone in a compromised position, such as during an intimate moment or while they are not fully closed, you may potentially violate their right to privacy and run the risk of facing criminal charges as a result.

Even in your own home, you can’t take pictures without permission

Many people are comfortable physically being in a situation even though they don’t necessarily want to record or photograph that moment. Whether your partner is sleeping in the nude in a pose that you find very attractive or you turn on your web camera to capture a casual encounter with someone you met at the bar, taking pictures of someone in the state of undress or during sexual activity without their explicit consent violates the right to privacy. 

If they find out and take action against you, you could face criminal charges that carry up to a year in jail. If you use those images to blackmail someone or distribute them to others without consent, you could also face secondary charges related to those actions. Anyone facing charges related to intimate images or videos needs a strong defense, as such charges could alter the course of their life. If you’ve been charged, don’t hesitate to seek legal assistance.