So everybody's huddled across the street, and there's a group of nicely dressed young people holding up cameras, taking pictures of the crowd, and speaking a language that was NOT English or Spanish. I had my back to them, and one of my learners pointed them out to me.
I pointed them out to uniformed Diplomatic Security who made them delete the pictures.
Let me be clear: I support the Photographer's Rights.
However, one of the few constants in my nature is that I am pragmatic.
Here's why this situation was different:
- This was an emergency event. A few people knew it was just a drill, but most did not. September 11 started as a fire drill.
- People were wearing their Government badges. Granted, they should have removed/covered them, but they had just exited the building.
- The photographers were people wearing Visitor badges. Their escort should have told them to knock it off. When you're a guest somewhere, don't act like you own the place.
- Visuals of an evacuation from a Federal building equal actionable intelligence. Maybe these people wouldn't have tried to blow up the building, but how do I know who looks at their MySpace or Facebook page?
Should you be able to take photos of Union Station? I say yes - too many people have seen it for it to be a secret. Should you be able to take photos of an evacuation of a Federal building? I say no - that's limited access information that could endanger people's lives.
I'm sure I did the right thing - I just wish this irritating twinge of guilt would go away.
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