Make consent a conversation
Explain purpose, channels, likely audiences, duration and limits to withdrawal after republication in a language the person understands.
Silence, fatigue, dependency or the presence of a camera is not consent.
Assess risk beyond the face
Clothing, scars, buildings, plates, location data or a story may identify someone, especially in conflict, migration or health contexts.
Minimize data and seek protection advice when risk remains.
Show a person, not a symbol of distress
Avoid humiliating poses, staging and graphic imagery without clear necessity. Verify names, dates, places and quotations.
Include people in the final choice when possible and preserve their agency.
Protect files and plan withdrawal
Limit access, define retention and remove location metadata when it creates risk.
Keep a contact and correction process, and explain that third-party copies cannot be fully controlled.
Decide before publishing in 6 steps
- 1
Clarify the purpose
Explain the editorial need and channels.
- 2
Talk without pressure
Inform, listen and allow a real refusal.
- 3
Assess identification
Review face, voice, place, story, details and metadata.
- 4
Check representation
Confirm dignity, accuracy, context and no deceptive staging.
- 5
Secure files
Limit access, copies, retention and location data.
- 6
Plan follow-up
Document contact, withdrawal, correction and review dates.
Situations that require a pause
- Consent under dependency or acute stress.
- An identifiable child without an appropriate protection assessment.
- Health, migration or location details that may increase danger.
- Graphic imagery used only for shock.
- Files shared without access or retention controls.
Frequently asked questions
Is a signed form enough?
No. It documents a process, but consent must be understood, free, specific and informed, and editorial risk still requires assessment.
Must faces always be blurred?
No. It depends on consent, context and risk; blur alone may not prevent identification.
Can a published image be withdrawn?
The publisher can act on its own channels but cannot guarantee deletion of third-party copies.
Can a generated image illustrate a real crisis?
It must never be presented as documentary evidence or invent the identity and suffering of real people.
Official sources
Always verify the date and conditions on the official source.