STEP 2 ASSESS INTENDED AUDIENCE Informed consent depends on an understanding of the purpose and audience of the footage. If a person granted informed consent to the original recording, that consent does not carry over to unanticipated future uses. For instance, a prisoner may consent to a recording taken in his jail cell for use in a human rights report, but not for that same footage to be used for entertainment purposes. When considering the consent of individuals to share their images, identities, and stories, ask: • • • Was consent given with the understanding that it would be shared for a particular audience and/or use? How would increased exposure to the footage impact the privacy, dignity, and security of those involved in the video? What about the way it is presented with other videos or information? Would the individuals filmed consent to the use you intend to make of the video? Do not assume that because your organization or publication targets a specific audience, the footage you curate will not circulate around the world online and make it back to the community of those filmed. (See the “From the Expert” section on page 10 for the International Committee of the Red Cross’s guidance on handling sensitive information in the public domain.) STEP 3 ASSESS RISKS Consider what harm could result from sharing footage publicly. Keep in mind that notions of privacy and risks of violence, social marginalization, and repression are not uniform from one society or culture to the next. In the US, for example, there is a general understanding that “public” events such as protests are fair game for documentation. In other countries, however, protesters take steps to ensure their identities are private so as to avoid targeted repression for activism. Consult with someone sensitive to the social norms and security situation of the community where the recording takes place to gauge the potential that sharing the footage would violate individual privacy or put people or communities at risk. 181 VIDEO AS EVIDENCE: ETHICAL GUIDELINES V 1.2 SHARING •