Police Tell British Live Streamer Not To Post Video After Chinese Tourists Tell Him To Stop Filming

If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. On an otherwise normal day in late January, Brendan Kavanagh, a well-known performer who frequently enlivens London’s St Pancras station with histunes on the piano, found himself in a tense situation while broadcasting a livestream on YouTube. A group of Chinese tourists, distinct in their bright red scarves, interrupted his performance, insisting that he cease filming them, escalating the situation to involve the local police. The altercation was initiated by a woman claiming to work for a Chinese TV station. She queried whether the camera could capture her image and subsequently asserted filming was prohibited. Kavanagh insisted on his rights to film in public spaces, saying, “We are in Great Britain, we are not in China.” Tensions rose out of hand when Kavanah was accused of an attempt to physically touch one of the female tourists during his apparent gesture towards a Chinese flag she was holding. In defense, the pianist explained he only made contact with the flag. Further explaining, Kavangah drew attention to the small red flags embellished with five yellow stars. The performer adamantly reaffirmed his rights to film in public places in the UK, where no expectation of privacy applies. The conflict caught a bystander’s attention, who suggested that the displeased tourists should leave the premises. The situation drew the attention of two police officers. Display content from Twitter Click here to display content from Twitter. Learn more in Twitter’s…Police Tell British Live Streamer Not To Post Video After Chinese Tourists Tell Him To Stop Filming