Today, a stranger took photos and videos of our baby in a shop in Glasgow and we were told there was nothing anyone could do!

While shopping, a man standing next to us took clear photos and videos of our baby without our knowledge or consent. When my partner challenged him, he denied it. Only after a shop manager intervened and checked his phone did he admit the images were there.

We contacted the police, but we were told that because this happened in a public place, no crime had been committed.

When asked why he had taken images of our child, he couldn’t give a clear explanation.

As parents, this was deeply unsettling. In that moment, our minds went straight to one question: what was the intent? We were left knowing that a stranger had taken and kept images of our child, with no consequences and no obligation to delete them.

As parents, not knowing what could happen to that image once it exists is what makes this so concerning. In today’s world, images can be stored, backed up, shared, or misused instantly. Yet the law offers no clear protection in situations like this.

We believe there should be clear and reasonable safeguards in place to protect children in situations like this.

This is why we believe the law in Scotland needs to change.

We are calling on the Scottish Government to:

• Make it an offence to take clear, identifiable photos or videos of a child without parental or guardian consent
• Require individuals to delete images or videos of a child if consent is refused or withdrawn, including any copies stored, backed up, or shared, and prohibit further distribution
• Introduce clear consequences for those who ignore these rules
• Strengthen protections around sharing images of children online
• Children deserve privacy and protection. Parents should have a say in who can take and keep images of their children.

If you agree this shouldn’t be allowed, please sign and share to help protect children across Scotland.