Laws in Italy

If they didn't take down your name or a photo, how would they identify you in on a future visit? That would require getting into a database used at Passport Control. Definitely do not take photos of any guards (anywhere) - they really, really don't take to that.

I think you are fine since no record was make BUT it is generally not a good idea to take pictures of serious guards or anything might look like a military/government building without asking. Hold up the camera, point at them, if they shake their heads NO, thank them and move on. And look around, often there are "no photo" signs posted. You know a red circle, camera in the middle, and slash across the middle.

I took some innocent iPhone photos inside a consulate lobby (it was really beautiful!) and was practically tackled by guards there and ushered out of the building. Quite embarrassing. I think this kind of thing is pretty common though, and if you weren't booked there's nothing to worry about.

Honestly I don't know why you'd be taking photos like that in this current environment in the 1st place. Military guards are there for a reason....Dont know about you but I dont want my security is compromised by tourists takings photos. And photos in the consulate or embassy...again a no no. Im an American living in Sydney and when I have to renew US passports etc I have to go thru metal detectors leave all bags including phones with the security guard. Then they escort me upstairs to do my passport.

C'mon people for once can you use your common sense....

And really there is no such thing as "innocent" photos anymore when it comes to security and gvmt unfortunately. You shouldnt have to be told that

They don't know who you are , just another tourist , relax and don't do it again

I don't understand your post. What does " got in trouble" mean? They don't even know who you are, right? No arrest or anything?

Jenn - Have a drink and unwind. The OP doesn't deserve your opprobrium, he was just asking a question.

I myself have taken pictures of security guards in Italy -- the Aplini with the gorgeous Tyrolean hats in front of the Duomo. I disagree that people should give up their right to take innocent photos in a public place for the sake of "security theater".

Hardly shameful conduct. Maybe a bit aggressive but not shameful.

Unless explicitly prohibited by the authorities, there are no laws prohibiting people from photographing law enforcement and military personnel in a public place. There are only privacy laws governing the publication of photographs, but that is for everybody.

The above was also clarified by the Italian Privacy Guarantor (the Authority supervising all Privacy Laws) in 2012 after a request for clarification by the Ministry of the Interior.

Of course you can always count on some people abusing their power when they are given a government issued uniform and a weapon (or even just a whistle).

Jtraveler and others, taking photos of military or police personnel is not permitted as it can compromise the safety of the individual being photographed if published online.

Don't do it.

Jtraveler--- how are the authorities supposed to distinguish between "innocent" iPhone photos and not-so-innocent ones? That raises the question of profiling.

We had a terrorist threat scare here in Seattle shortly after 9/11 when some "middle Eastern-looking" men were seen photographing the ferry boarding procedure. They were not stopped at the time, or caught later, but security was ramped up after that.

Maybe they were just tourists taking "innocent" photos, but who knows.

There are no laws in Italy against photographing or filming law enforcement or military personnel in the public square. As a matter of fact they are shown in Italian newspapers and TV news all the time.

If someone here wants to assert otherwise they need to cite specific laws, regulations and articles of the Italian Penal Code.

If they think you have taken a photo they ask you to delete it. Sure many military vehicles and guards get into photos from yards away that they don't even know are being taken...but if you are up close or looking to pose with them, it is not going to happen.

They are working, not ceremonial guards.

On a March trip to Rome we traveled all over the city, and in those intracity travels we passed at least 15 embassies, all of which were guarded by militia, mostly with Kalashnikovs at the ready. After about the 3rd one, I thought about photographing them for an online pictorial, but ended up not doing it. Glad I didn't!

But some travellers think the "no photos" injunction does not apply to them. Our guide in Iran warned us all not to take photos in the .Teheran airport. One man took some pics anyway and about 5 security guys descended on him looking very menacing indeed. Iraj, our guide, had to do some fast talking to calm them and the miscreant got the scare of his life.

On another trip, when crossing by tour bus from Estonia to Latvia, our guide collected all our passports and took them into the border office, and she warned us all not, not, not to take photos from the bus. Of course, one man did, with a flash camera (such a jerk) and he had about a 40 minute inquisition by the border guards and had his camera confiscated. We all cheered silently.

Roberto, the old law that forbids taking photos inside train stations and military barracks is still alive, even if almost nobody enforces it anymore.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a similar stupid old law that forbids taking photos of uniformed personnel guarding possible targets.

We don't know what exactly happened and where, but if a guard goes away without asking for an id and saying anything... why would anyone be worried? I guess the op didn't meet a T-1000 cyborg with recording devices behind its threatening mirrored shades!

Dario:

The law you are referring to is the Royal Decree 1161 of 11 July 1941, a wartime law passed under Prime Minister Benito Mussolini.

The law was abrogated with Legislative Decree no. 66 of 15 March 2010 at art. 2268. You can see the abrogated Royal Decree 1161 on the list of abrogated laws at page 20 (no. 196 in the list) at art. 2268 of the aforementioned Legislative Decree.

That of course does not mean that a soldier or policeman would know what they are doing or talking about. All they know is that they have a badge, a uniform and a weapon, and by the virtue of having them, some feel entitled to exert their power by making up their own rules. To someone with a hammer in his hands all problems look like a nail.

Interesting to know about restrictions on photographing guards. I didn't realize that the Italians were so sensitive about photographs. Were you taking the photos from/in a public space or were you in some kind of special security area or zone? I had thought that the various palace guards were posted in part as tourist attractions. London Buckingham Palace, Copenhagen Rosenborg Castle, Oslo Royal Palace etc. Some even have changing of the guard ceremonies for the tourist.

Edgar.
There are no restrictions.
The only restrictions are if you trespass inside a military installation to take photographs. But that was not the case. This is just a uniformed idiot who wanted to experience the thrill of being Kim Jong Un for a minute.

Zoe, I'm not sure how a person's safety could be compromised by taking their picture (unless you believe that cameras steal souls!)
Were you insinuating that there is a law in Italy that makes this illegal, or just suggesting this in general? In the USA it is completely legal to photograph a police officer for any reason whatsoever. Unfortunately, it is also legal for the cop to "forget" that you have that right, and to book you, waste your time processing you in jail for a perfectly legal act, and then drop the charges, as a retaliation for hurting his feelings.

To expand this discussion a bit, it should be remembered that there ARE laws in some places prohibiting photography of law enforcement, military subjects, airports or other transportation infrastructure. Norma provided one example of that in Iran. This is an extreme example of what that can lead to in Iran - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zahra_Kazemi

Another example is Cuba, and the travel warnings for that state "Photographing military and police installations or personnel and harbour, rail and airport facilities is forbidden." That's also true in Egypt (although not as popular as a tourist destination these days), as the warnings state, "Photography of bridges, canals (including the Suez Canal), government, police and embassy buildings and vehicles, as well as military personnel and establishments is prohibited. Under Egyptian law, individuals can be detained indefinitely without charge."

As photography is an important component of my travels, I always check the government travel advice website prior to travelling to an unfamiliar location, as it's prudent to be aware of the local laws.

just ask first before taking the pic. All the drama goes away

First, I apologize for giving misleading information about laws. I was told by a hotel owner that taking photos of guards is not permitted, and why.

Another example of something sounding reasonable and still being wrong information.

As to safety, he was referring to someone posting photos of military, etc., leading to harassment, or worse.

If nothing else there is the simple matter of not taking photos of people who do not wish to have their photos taken. The fact that they have machine guns adds an extra incentive to be polite.