Originally Posted by
Mr H
I don’t believe airlines are allowed to stop you taking photographs even though some may claim they are. You are in a public place and you may take photographs of whomever or whatever you please once you are in the air and free of any laws on the ground (which in any case seem to prohibit pictures of buildings and public servants rather than private individuals).
However, I guess most passengers choose not to stand their ground, believing it to be a foolhardy exercise to argue with cabin crew and risk arrest or ban. That’s certainly why I complied with a Wizz Air instruction to delete a photo.
In the UK, no-one can legally compel you to delete a photograph (or any recorded material, for that matter - including videos and audio tracks) without a court order. No-one - not a flight attendant, not ground staff, not a law-enforcement officer. You also cannot be arrested for refusing to delete this material. It is your right to not delete them until compelled by a court.
The airline can refuse to allow you to fly for disobeying the flight attendant, or for violating their regulations, but that is different. You are not breaking the law by refusing to delete anything.