We can still take cameras onto our beaches, rivers, lakes etc, as these are all public and as yet we have no rules against photographing whatever in public. But most pools are private nowadays, and then it's up to the owners to set the rules - and almost universally it's 'no cameras allowed'. Schools (but not all of them) typically take the same stance with their sports carnivals. I try to see the other side of it, but far out... I just want to take pictures of my kids being children
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Do they allow cell phones?
Pools in Australia have just about universally banned cell phones from change rooms. You can have them in the pool area proper, but you still can't use them as a camera. Same anywhere that photography is not permitted. So if you want to get a pic in one of these places you actually have to behave like a real creep and do it on the sly. It's messed up. It's got to the point in our neck of the woods that people think they have a right to stop you from photographing in public spaces.
The irony is there are surveillance cameras everywhere. Googlemaps vans trundle down the street every so often, snapping everything they drive past. But dang, point a camera in someone's general direction and they get all tetchy and nervous about it.