A 2009 dispute does not create a general prohibition
A Personal Thailand story published in 2009 discussed a dispute involving local media and recording on Pattaya Walking Street. It included personal opinions and allegations connected with that event. Neither an old disagreement nor its headline establishes that visitors are legally forbidden to take all photographs or videos on Walking Street today.
Walking Street is a busy entertainment area where public roads, privately managed businesses and people’s personal privacy intersect. The sensible approach is to distinguish a casual travel photo from intrusive recording or an organised commercial production. Rules may vary by venue, equipment, purpose and the authority responsible for the location.
Ordinary travel photos versus professional shoots
A quick photograph of colourful lights for personal use is not the same activity as a crew using a tripod, lighting, models, drones or blocked pavement space for an advertisement. Even if both use a phone or camera, the setup and intended use can raise different questions. Avoid assuming that a smartphone automatically exempts every production from requirements.
Thailand Film Office publishes guidance and application material for foreign productions. That process does not mean every tourist must apply for a movie permit to take a holiday photo. The safest step for planned commercial filming is to contact the relevant authorities and any venue owner before bringing equipment or organising people.
Respect privacy in an entertainment district
People visiting restaurants, clubs and bars may not want to be identified in photographs or online videos. Ask before recording a close-up, an interview or anything that places a specific person at the centre of the image. Be especially careful around workers, patrons, children and anyone who is visibly distressed or receiving assistance.
Never record into private changing areas, restrooms or rooms where privacy is expected. Do not use a confrontational filming style to provoke reactions, and stop or seek clarification when staff ask about a camera on their property. Publishing footage can raise additional privacy and reputational issues beyond whether the shutter was pressed on a public street.
Inside a bar, hotel or business
An establishment may have its own house rules about photography or video. Outdoor signs and promotional photographs do not guarantee a right to film inside. If you are planning to review a venue or capture performers, ask management what is allowed and whether the people appearing in your footage have agreed.
For an interview, explain where the material will appear and seek clear agreement before posting. If staff decline, you can record your own impressions later without showing faces or private conversations. An unpleasant disagreement is not a reason to intensify filming, block a doorway or argue with security staff.
Tripods, drones and other equipment
A tripod or camera rig can obstruct foot traffic on crowded streets; lights can distract drivers and pedestrians. Larger equipment or a shoot that occupies public space may require permission from the relevant local authority. Do not set up equipment in front of an emergency entrance, business access point or narrow passage.
Drones involve separate aviation and radio rules in Thailand and should never be assumed permissible simply because filming on a street appears convenient. Venue permissions, local restrictions, aircraft regulations and privacy are separate questions. Check current requirements before travel rather than using an old Pattaya blog post as legal advice.
How to react if someone objects
Stay calm, step aside and identify whether the request comes from a venue owner, staff member, police officer or another person being filmed. These parties do not all have identical authority. Avoid physical confrontation. If an official order is unclear, ask politely for an explanation and consider speaking with a qualified local professional before contesting it.
If somebody asks you not to publish footage of them, consider the request seriously even if the filming itself seemed ordinary. Editing out a face, choosing a wider street scene or deleting an intrusive clip may prevent an avoidable dispute. Respectful behaviour is usually a better travel strategy than debating rights on a crowded nightlife street.
A simple photographer’s checklist
Choose a safe place to stand, keep the footpath clear, avoid filming individuals without agreement and check the rules before entering private venues. For organised or commercial shoots, obtain appropriate approvals and written permissions. Keep cameras and phones secure without assuming every person in the area poses a threat.
Pattaya offers colourful urban scenes, but the rights and comfort of the people around you matter as much as the composition. The useful update to the 2009 story is not a blanket yes-or-no answer; it is knowing the difference between responsible tourist photography and filming that affects people, businesses or public space.
we need the story 🙂
not, hes still with them, they are concerned but not enough to double check what I have told them
So he got fired? Well can you not tell just the story you giving us small bits of a story.
the girl might back up the story because she doesnt think what he did is wrong, the law is whatever the nice policeman says, and so may the guy that was blackmailed, but yes, sitting down opposite soi 13/1 looking for a new girl most evenings, not in uniform tho
Well that can get you in problems because that it slander in Thailand. You can never prove it and the girl will never backup your story. But please tell us the story and make the people guess who the person is.
I have personally witnessed one of these guys working for a beach girl in return for favors. This included entering and searching a room while the occupant was out and when the farang returned threatening to arrest him on a false charge if he didnt give money. Im happy to name him if allowed.
yeah stuff like that needs to be changed. they have to respect peoples privacy, its not right unless of course the person says its okay to film, which i doubt that would happen very often.
Well since Howard work a Police as well i think they target him, you can see him on TV everyday and also as a Police. They should really stop showing ID cards, house numbers and plates. I mean really who care what house number or ID card have it is not news. My friend had an accident and he got a camera in his face by a what he thought was a Police officer. The next day he was all over the news saying stuff in shock he probaly would not say if he know the guy was a reporter.
That makes sence now, as i didnt know that, as far as i was aware he was just tourist police. But yes i get your point of having the camera stuck in your face after something happening like that, but i know people that work for the media in thailand and thats just how it is. the papers and news take pictures and record before the police or paramedics can do anything.
its something that needs to be changed, but its not just these guys that do it, its the same all over thailand. although these guys did make a tv series about it.
I did not make the film i have other things to do at that time of night so i am not offended. My point is still that it was the Media who was the target here is putting up his camera crew in all kinds of places. Nobody ask them to film innocent people that probably do not want their names and house number on film. If you just got robbed by two lady boys do you want to have a camera stuck up your face with your ID and Passport number shown to the world? If you just came out from a car accident and your wife died do you want a camera next to you when you trying make sense of it all? Howard is a Police but he also working for / owner of a Media company.
If i was in a crime and someone came with a camera to my house or crime scene i probably punch them in the face for invading my personal space. (late Christmas rime)
If thats the point of the movie then why are the tourist police being filmed? its nothing to do with them or the Thai police, its the thai media that film all that stuff.
The tourist police are there to help tourists in trouble with thai locals and other situations they may get in like bar fights and what not. They help out the local police because they can speak to the farang in their own language with no confusion.
From what i can see in that video, they only asked why were they being filmed and nothing else. He even said they dont mind being filmed as long as they’re asked first, which makes the point, why weren’t they asked after they mentioned that instead of kicking up a fuss about it?
Not at one point in that clip did they seem to be interrogating anyone, simply asking why was they being filmed. I would do exactly the same in his situation, if some ones pointing a camera at me without asking before hand then i will want to know why.
This whole thing is a waste of time, youve probably just heard stuff about them you dont like, so by doing this you’re trying to make a bad name for them. Which is stupid, because theyre there for the safety of tourists and farang alike, nothing else.
And before you say anything about “if its such a waste of time why did you make so much effort to type all that out” its 4.52am and i have nothing better to do, thats why.
Sorry if I’ve offended you in anyway but that’s just my point on the situation, it just looks like you’ve over reacted about the whole situation.
The point with the movie is that the “police” always sticks up the cam in dead people houses or other victims. But when someone film him he got angry.
I think seeing the rest of the video might help, especially the preceeding footage of walking street, and the target being filmed, all I could identify were police officers. One might ask what were you actually filming?
Also in the cold light of day you may see this differently, not being in your shoes, I didn’t see anything to get so upset about.
Unless there’s more to this video than is being let on?