Legality of recording by civilians

The legality of such restrictions is problematic; in view of the First Amendment in the United States of America, restrictions on taking pictures of a public structure in public may be unconstitutional (in view of the fact that prohibiting taking pictures will probably neither prevent nor reduce the potential for terrorist acts, nor do such prohibitions necessarily mean it will in any way hinder someone from committing an attack in the first place).

In August 2004, an Annandale, Virginia man was arrested and detained when his wife was observed by a police officer filming the Chesapeake Bay Bridge as he drove across.

[2] Many places have passed or considered legislation that prohibits voyeurism with phones and other similar devices, commonly referred to as "upskirting" or "downblousing.

[6] On March 7, 2014, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court hearing ruled that taking photos of someone up their skirt was not specifically prevented by peeping tom laws.

[9] Laws prohibiting the photography of civilians for public display have prevented the creation of recordings for Google Street View in some countries in Europe.