ⒾMachine translations by Deepl

Streaming a funeral, is it wise?

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Can churches and funeral homes just stream funerals? After all, then images of the deceased - lying in his or her coffin - could be on screen - or images of the speakers, or images of the visitors. Or of all those people. Who didn't ask for it.

Regional daily Tubantia published an article on that, in which Privacy First Foundation also spoke in the person of Privacy First's lawyer Vincent Böhre.

Böhre raises the following question marks:

  • "Whether it is allowed? A lawyer might say that the AVG, or General Data Protection Regulation, no longer applies to a deceased person. But I think that's pretty simplistic thinking."
  • According to Böhre, bodily integrity is also at stake. Especially if the deceased is pictured during a funeral. "As an organiser, you do have to ask yourself at such a moment whether it is socially acceptable to broadcast that."
  • other objection to this kind of live streaming: "It may well be that the organisers and the bereaved know that the funeral can be seen on YouTube. But without explicit mention in an advertisement, other visitors obviously don't know. If they are featured, they can make a point of it. Because that is not allowed just like that."
  • and: "Nowadays, criminals also keep a close eye on social media. If they see a funeral and they watch the livestream, they immediately know that family members are not at home at that time. And then they strike. That's how brazen they are."

Further reading: Dozens of funerals for all to see on YouTube (NOS News, 18 March 2023)