Is blurring background faces out sufficient to conceal identity in documentary?
 

I have footage taken in locations that I have permission to film in, but many people in background who weren't waivered and would have a reasonable expectation of privacy. I'm therefore blurring out faces but I'm wondering whether that's enough? E,g,, a person might be wearing distinctive pants, or rings, or anything else which would be recognizable to both him/her and their acquaintances through which they could be identified. Anyone been in a similar situation?

Re: Is blurring background faces out sufficient to conceal identity in documentary?
 

If I'm not mistaken, as long as you don't see their faces, you are good to go. I have never seen a video on TV where the entire body was blurred.

Re: Is blurring background faces out sufficient to conceal identity in documentary?
 

Thanks Steve, me neither. Just want to be on the safe side. I guess the criteria is not whether someone could identify themselves in the video, but whether they might reasonably be identified by a member of the public.

Re: Is blurring background faces out sufficient to conceal identity in documentary?
 

I'm sure the US laws in that regard are similar to Canadian regs.Here, the assumption is made that the only part of a human body that is not subject to significant change is the face, so blurring facial features is all that's needed.
There can be specific exceptions i.e. a close up of a pair of hands wearing a custom designed set of wedding rings, etc. that are easily identifiable. I would guess that almost always if you were shooting something like that, up close and personal, that you would have obtained a release of some sort anyway