Why consent is becoming the thing that sets professional creators apart
Pina Vetter
on
Pro Tips
Filming without consent is sparking a growing public debate across Europe. For production companies, videographers, and content creators, that debate is an opportunity: to show that how you work is different, and why that matters.
Imagine finding out you went viral before you even knew you had been filmed.
That is what happened to two women this year. One at a lake in Hamburg. One walking into a shopping center in London. Both were recorded through smart glasses without their knowledge. Both faced harassment after the clips spread across social media.
They are far from the only ones. Cases like these are being reported across Europe with increasing regularity.
It’s not just about smart glasses
These cases usually involve independent content creators, not production companies or agencies. The public debate tends to center on smart glasses and other tools that make secret filming easier. But there is more to it than the technology.
At the heart of it is something simpler: people want control over their own image and data. And that desire leads directly to the need for consent.
The days when people didn’t think twice about what happened to their image online are over. There is growing awareness of what it actually means to have your face shared with the world through the internet. And if you work in film, media, or the creative industries, how you handle that says something about you. Asking for consent and setting up proper agreements isn’t a formality. It’s part of how you show respect for the people you work with.
Audiences are asking questions they never used to ask
Public awareness around consent and image rights is growing fast, and European regulators are responding. The EDPB has commissioned a report on the social acceptability of smart glasses, and Instagram announced that it will remove videos that harass, exploit, or secretly record people without their consent.
Across Europe, public opinion on filming and consent is shifting. People increasingly understand that appearing in someone else’s content is not a given, even when the camera is clearly visible.
The questions audiences are starting to ask are simple but pointed. Who filmed this? Did that person agree to be in it? What happens to the footage afterward? Those questions are arriving at the door of professional production too, not just viral clips on social media.
This is where you come in
As a film, media, or creative professional, it’s on you to make sure everyone you’re filming and working with has actually consented. In practice, this doesn’t need to be complicated.
A clear consent or release form, signed before filming starts or the project begins, does three things: it tells the person exactly how their image will be used, gives them a genuine choice, and gives you a record that the conversation happened.
A few things make that process actually work:
Give the signer a real chance to understand what they’re agreeing to
Give them time to read the agreement and ask questions
Share a signed copy with them afterward, for full transparency
That record matters more than ever. Distributors want to see it. Broadcasters ask for it. Clients increasingly expect it as part of a professional handover.
Making consent simple
Collecting consent can be as quick as asking, “Do you consent to this?” and capturing the answer properly.
That is what Connie’s SignTags are built for. On location, it takes one phone scan and one signature. No printer, no paperwork to chase, no gaps in the archive.
Back at your desk, it stays just as easy. Create an agreement, send it out by email, and let the automatic reminders do the chasing. Every signed agreement is stored securely, so nothing gets lost between the shoot and the delivery deadline.
The two women in Hamburg and London were never asked. Nobody gave them a choice. You can be the one who does. Ask first, keep the record, and give people the respect of knowing where their image is going.
Connie is a GDPR-compliant eSignature and document management platform built for film, media, and creative professionals. Find out more about Connie or book a demo.
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