What is Informed Consent?

Obtaining consent should not just an annoying formality that can be done on the side to ensure that the creator or the commissioning party are legally safe. It should be about explaining the context to the people depicted, informing them of what will happen to their images and telling them that they do not have to make themselves available if they do not want to. This is what is meant by the term Informed Consent. 

By following Informed Consent practices, you ensure that the people that are being photographed and filmed are treated fairly and contribute to an ethical content production. 

How do I obtain an ethically sound informed consent?

1. INFORM : Inform the community and the people who are to be depicted/interviewed in advance about the procedure, the aim and the use of the images/stories. This information includes in particular:

• that you will ask all people being photographed, filmed or interviewed for their consent,
• who is responsible for the project and for the publication of the visuals / shared information,
• in which media the visuals / shared information will be published,
• what the intentions are for the publication of the visuals / stories,
• that a pseudonym will be used if they so wish,
• that the pictures, videos and stories will be used for 5 years,
• that they can withdraw the consent at any time if they wish,
• who is the contact person for the withdrawal of consent (local contact).

2. GET THE CONSENT with the FairConsent App: After you have obtained the name and age, you read the text to the people pictured or play the sound file for them. They give their consent with a thumbs-up gesture or a signature.

Visit Fairpicture's blog for more information about informed consent: 
- FairTalk Panel: Informed Consent - Balancing Ethics and Efficiency
- Informed Consent: Why an app is better than paper forms
- Informed Consent: The right to one's own image