Documenting illegal activity

Kenny Williams · February 12, 2017

I've searched online but can't get a clear answer. My question is how do shows such as vice go around filming people literally making drugs and not hiding their face how is that legal? Why is the person doing it not in jail especially since most of the time they explain every detail of their operation?

David Mullen ASC · February 12, 2017

This may help:

http://www.gcglaw.com/resources/entertainment/documentaries.html

Max Field · February 13, 2017

I've wondered on the other end, how do you keep clientele around when your info is out there for free and cops could bust your operation at any moment?

Aapo Lettinen · February 13, 2017

Pretty careless dealers huh :rolleyes:

Journalists can protect their sources in most western countries if the sources don't commit/have not committed/are not planning to commit serious crimes (here in Finland the limit is the crimes where the penalty is at least 6 years of prison, the limits and conditions vary from country to country) . this may change though in the US I think, it seems that they are planning to limit journalistic freedom quite much in the near future so the limits might lower to smaller crimes

Edward Lawrence Conley III · February 22, 2017

This may help:

http://www.gcglaw.com/resources/entertainment/documentaries.html

I think he is asking more about the people in the film/show that are not hiding their faces. Not so much how the Filmmaker gets away with making the show.

I don't think Ive seen footage that takes place in America where they haven't blocked out the participants while engaging in illegal activities. There certainly might be and if there is and the PoPo see it they will certainly go after the criminals. Cops have busted people through their stupid FB postings.

I have seen footage from around the world where they follow poachers and the poachers don't seem to care if their face is seen.

Brian Drysdale · February 22, 2017

this may change though in the US I think, it seems that they are planning to limit journalistic freedom quite much in the near future so the limits might lower to smaller crimes

In the UK journalists have gone to prison to protect their sources . https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/11/journalists-protect-sources-serious-crime-bill-whistleblowers

Also in USA: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/jul/07/pressandpublishing.usnews

Regarding the US, there would be a big battle in the courts over limits to journalistic freedom. given the 1st amendment in the Constitution.

Aapo Lettinen · February 22, 2017

here in Finland the exception are situations where the information has came from a source who is a public servant making a transgression by giving out the information. in case of drug dealers etc. normal persons they can protect their sources.

with the current US situation+development I would not be surprised even if the journalistic freedom would be suppressed there in the future to make some kind of Erdogan-style state (really hope not :o )

, freedom of speech as long as you have the same opinions with us... and a big wall preventing people from getting out ;)

Mark Dunn · February 22, 2017

In the UK journalists have gone to prison to protect their sources . https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/11/journalists-protect-sources-serious-crime-bill-whistleblowers

Also in USA: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/jul/07/pressandpublishing.usnews

Regarding the US, there would be a big battle in the courts over limits to journalistic freedom. given the 1st amendment in the Constitution.

Not in the UK. Find me a case where the journalist hasn't actually committed some other offence.

Edited February 22, 2017 by Mark Dunn