Privacy Concerns in the Age of Kodak

The introduction of portable cameras like Kodak in the 1890s transformed photography from a specialized craft into a mass hobby, but also sparked significant public backlash. Concerns over privacy led to bans on beaches and trains, as people feared their likenesses could be captured and distributed without consent by the emerging "Kodak fiend." While early cameras required cooperation and were cumbersome, the Kodak and later the Brownie made photography accessible, leading to a rapid spread that necessitated regulation, though these bans were ultimately short-lived.