Photos of US Embassy Banned in Bangkok?

[klauskunkel]

I had a similar experience on Sathorn Rd outside I believe the Australian embassy. Camera raised to eye to take picture of mural, two guards came running to interdict... "Can not Mr., can not take photo."

My reply: "Do you understand the concept of a zoom lens? I could go across the street and achieve the same shot...What could you do?"

Thought processing - silence

Another attempt: "If you don't want people to take a picture, then you should not decorate the wall so nicely. Just keep it grey and boring and whoever still takes a picture: that's a terrorist. Makes your job easier."

More silence - thinking about food.

Last attempt: "What about people with smart phone. You going to stop them using phone while walking on this side walk? Phone has camera, you know?"

Profound, uncomfortable silence - not thinking about food anymore.

But, it's not the guards who make nonsensical policy, it's the people in offices who design policy usually without any input from those having to enforce.

"Thought processing - silence."

"More silence - thinking about food."

"Profound, uncomfortable silence - not thinking about food anymore."

Surely someone with your vivid imagination could come up some better guesses as to what they were thinking about while listening to one more know-it-all farang who apparently thought he was educating the natives from astride his unassailable logic ... always assuming the encounter wasn't embellished beyond recognition after numerous performances for friends, family and startled strangers.

Beautiful.

Yeah nothing like a know-it-all farang harassing some low paid security guards who are just trying to do their job and be polite at the same time.

Sounds like the same kind of guy who screams at the McDonalds cashier because of the trans fat in his burger.

you are both right, and I apologize

[HerbalEd]

Oh, come now. You aren't actually that clueless, are you? Think a little and you'll get the answer yourself.

[HerbalEd]

American paranoia. Google is exempt.

Yeah, right. Why should America ... or any other country ... be afraid that some terrorist action might take place at one of their embassies? No evidence of that, huh?

[HerbalEd]

Seems like total BS to me.

It would be so simple to gather surveillance info without obviously taking a photo.

Unbelievablw paranoia.

What dream world do you live in? One without terrorism, evidently.

BTW, paranoia is fear of the unreal.

Edited July 28, 2016 by HerbalEd

[Bung]

I looked at a condo across the river from the US Embassy and was told by the seller (us citizen) that you used to be able to go to the roof to hang out but now cannot because the embassy stopped allowing access as they were worried about security.

[Pib]

I looked at a condo across the river from the US Embassy and was told by the seller (us citizen) that you used to be able to go to the roof to hang out but now cannot because the embassy stopped allowing access as they were worried about security.

The Chao Phrayo River cutting through Bangkok is kilometers away from the U.S. Embassy Bangkok. Was the seller sober when he told you his story. But maybe you are talking some other city on Earth?

[bino]

Just out of curiosity, if push came to shove and a confrontation developed between a security guard and a private person, what law would be broken by that person standing on a public street taking a photograph of a building?

They would probably claim some kind of national security on a need to know basis, and you would end up being waterboarded at Gitmo.

[ericthai]

I looked at a condo across the river from the US Embassy and was told by the seller (us citizen) that you used to be able to go to the roof to hang out but now cannot because the embassy stopped allowing access as they were worried about security.

Are you talking about Bangkok?? If so there is no river or canal near the US embassy.

[Rob13]

Plenty pics of it on google.Guards must be slacking.

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=653&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=us+embassy+bangkok&oq=us+embassy+bangkok&gs_l=img.12...0.0.0.58206.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1c..64.img..0.0.0.hjr5kRXytNI

Edited July 28, 2016 by Rob13

[YankeeDK]

I worked a year as local security at the US embassy in Copenhagen. This very issue is one of the reasons the job sucked. We were told not to let people take photos of the building, but in reality we had zero authority outside embassy grounds. We would tell people not to take pictures and most of the time that worked. It was a kind of bluff. However if you are a suspicious looking guy, you can be sure the police will look into it and probably make you miserable for a while.

[gk10002000]

There are many threads on this subject. In some countries you would have been arrested on the spot. Did the security guard get your ID, passport #, take any info from you to identify who you are? If not then its poor security.

no doubt he has orders to do so, paranoia, terror hysteria, or whatever. But that doesn't matter. He has no authority over you. I would have snapped some photos of him. He can ask or demand anything he wants, but that doesn't mean you have to do it. Now, having said that, I have no doubts that had you stayed there long enough, embassy officials probably would have called the thai authorities and you would have been inconvenienced quite a bit more for questioning, taken down to the police station, etc.

[csabo]

American paranoia. Google is exempt.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attacks_on_U.S._diplomatic_facilities

That's a list of about 40 US diplomatic facilities that were attacked. Almost all attacks require planning including photo recon. Paranoia? Cautiousness? Diligence? You decide, but at least get informed before you spout off.

Edited July 29, 2016 by csabo

[manarak]

American paranoia. Google is exempt.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attacks_on_U.S._diplomatic_facilities

That's a list of about 40 US diplomatic facilities that were attacked. Almost all attacks require planning including photo recon. Paranoia? Cautiousness? Diligence? You decide, but at least get informed before you spout off.

paranoia is the wrong word.

pointless apparent security gesticulation would be a better description.

as another member put it, taking pictures covertly is so easy that banning taking photos is so pointless.

having security guards telling people off from taking photos is just to "do the maximum possible" - but not to improve security - but rather instead to shut up the fat walmarter and his mother in law who would then say "look, they do nothing to protect the embassy, they even let people take photos!".

stupid policies to protect the embassy's image from stupid comments by stupid people which sadly are in the majority.

Edited July 29, 2016 by manarak

[Bung]

I looked at a condo across the river from the US Embassy and was told by the seller (us citizen) that you used to be able to go to the roof to hang out but now cannot because the embassy stopped allowing access as they were worried about security.

The Chao Phrayo River cutting through Bangkok is kilometers away from the U.S. Embassy Bangkok. Was the seller sober when he told you his story. But maybe you are talking some other city on Earth?

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I meant Chiang Mai

[RBOP]

There are many threads on this subject. In some countries you would have been arrested on the spot. Did the security guard get your ID, passport #, take any info from you to identify who you are? If not then its poor security.

Yeah right, in the Bkk streets one would have to identify oneself to an embassy guard. Forget it.

One time a stranger of Indian decent knocked on my condo door trying to sell his peanuts. After scolding him and telling him no soliciting was allowed I went down to report to the security guard. Together we found the intruder and the guard ushered him out. I asked the guard did he ask his name? the guard replied No. A week later there were several reported break-ins by other condo owners. TiT.

[arjunadawn]

On July 27, 2016 at 8:34 AM, evadgib said:

Since when has their jurisdiction included the street? How would they censure passing dashcams?

They're jurisdiction does not cover the street. Embassies are protected by inner ring DSS and marines. Both also quasi guard outer ring with hired regional contractors, and always when attacked. Private locals are contracted for admin security and processing outside the inner perimeter, gatehouse, etc. they have no more authority on the streets then local folks. They're also prohibited from inside the inner ring. 

Embassies always have uniformed or other local law enforcement or military outside. They can make you stop taking pics or a standing national law or Reg. 

I doubt any American would race out. They would note, photo back, report, contact local asset, assign counter surv team, etc. if an American did race out and do this, and others knew, he would be disciplined.