By now, everyone within the EU has witnessed the effects of the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the Internet. One festival held in the Netherlands has come up with an unconventional way to try to combat the issue of attendees wishing to not have their photo taken.

According to NU.nl, the company behind the festival, H&L, are operating a system whereby festival-goers are encouraged to wear a red dot on their head (provided by the staff) should they not wish to be photographed. After introducing it at another of their events a few weeks previously, the system is now being rolled out at their other festivals. The suggestion is printed as part of the terms and conditions on flyers that were handed out.

A translation of the rule reveals: "You give permission for photos and videos taken on the site to be used for publication purposes. If you really do not want to be recognizable in photos or video, you can get a red dot from the organization and stick it on your forehead. It may also be a lipstick dot."

Henry Leeflang from H&L told local news outlet De Telegraaf that the festival’s photographers take photos and publish them on Facebook and that the option of wearing a red dot allows one to easily opt out. Organizers have promised to obscure the face of anyone sporting a red dot that makes it to a photo published in the online gallery.

While intended to be a lighthearted approach to the new legal requirements, there are plans to continue the system at future festivals.

Lead image credit: Sarah Richter via Pixabay.