Overexposed
The Gilded Age saw the rise of cameras impacting privacy. Kodak's introduction in 1888 revolutionized photography, leading to ethical dilemmas and legal responses regarding unauthorized image use, shaping the ongoing privacy debate.
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The article discusses the impact of the widespread availability of cameras in the Gilded Age on privacy. It recounts a story from 1904 where a widow's portrait was used in misleading advertisements for whiskey without her consent, highlighting the lack of control over one's image during that time. The introduction of Kodak cameras in 1888 revolutionized photography, leading to a surge in mass exposure and privacy concerns. The article explores how the new technology led to various money-making schemes and ethical dilemmas, such as unauthorized use of individuals' likenesses in advertising. It also touches on legal responses to these privacy issues, including the establishment of a narrow "right to privacy" in some states. The narrative reflects on the ongoing debate over the right to privacy in the face of advancing technology and the challenges of regulating exposure and exploitation in the digital age.
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2 comments<https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-rise-of-the-c...>
There are some places that are extremely restrictive of public photography, like the UAE. It is comforting about when your picture can't be taken without permission. Of course, this doesn't stop their government from taking pictures, and that's a big problem when you have no way to effectively provide your own video or photographic evidence without having violated the law.
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