Below is Miski Omar’s piece, which perfectly captures what is (still) unfolding around the couple caught in an intimate moment at the Coldplay concert.

There are so many layers to this situation. The band, for instance, uses footage of the audience in their shows — and that consent is often tucked away in tiny print on the back of the ticket, stating that by attending, you give up your image rights so the band can film, broadcast, and even sell the recordings.

“We’re collectively trying to decide through digital telepathy what makes it OK to ruin someone’s life. That is an impossible task”.

Miski Omar, The Guardian

But then comes the parallel recording — someone in the crowd filming everything and posting it online. And that’s where things get murkier.

Could the person who posted the video be sued for emotional or reputational damage? I believe so, because she had no legal authorization to record — let alone publish — the footage.

This is something most fans tend to ignore (or pretend not to know) when they try to capture moments with their favorite band: recordings made by the public aren’t officially authorized by the artists or their labels. Sharing them on platforms like YouTube? Even less so. And yet, everyone does it (myself included).

“What do we lose when we treat every viral moment like a courtroom?

What do we gain from piling on, without considering the proportion of the punishment?“
Miski Omar, The Guardian

Just like the girl who filmed the Coldplay scandal: she gained followers — but not a single cent.

To avoid infringing the rights of the original author, I’m not posting Miski Omar’s full article here. Instead, I encourage you to click here to read it in full on The Guardian’s website. I highly recommend it.