Another Digital Imagery Challenge: Privacy Issues and Geo Coding

Posted by: Curt Varone February 5, 2011 0

Firefighters and fire departments are struggling to deal with realities that new technologies have brought us. Digital imagery, spy cams, social media, electronic surviellance in the workplace. We have seen the headlines about firefighters being disciplined and in some cases terminated for posting videos and photos online. In a few cases just taking photos at incident scenes have gotten personnel in trouble.

Now there's a new angle on the digital imagery-social media problem: geo coding and privacy. Its not just a fire service issue – but it is one of those virtually unknown problems that technology has ushered in. It is lurking in the background waiting to create a new headline.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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