Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for maintaining of security and integrity of image data

1. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

receive a request for an image;

determine whether access settings associated with selected portions of said image are fulfilled;

cause image data representing said image to be provided in response thereto;

receive, from a user other than an owner of the image, a request to change the access settings associated with the image; and

cause the owner of the image to be prompted to change the access settings of the image in response to receiving the request to change the access settings.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said request comprises user identification and wherein said determination is based on said user identification.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said image data comprises information on masked portions of the image.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said image data represents said image with masked portions.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said controller is further arranged to request said access settings.

6. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

receive, from a user other than an owner of the image, a request to change the access settings of an image, the suggestion indicating at least a portion of the image and suggested access settings for the at least a portion;

cause the owner of the image to be prompted to change the access settings in response to receiving the request to change the access settings; and

receive an indication from the owner to adopt the requested access settings.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said controller is further arranged to associate said suggested access settings with said image and to store said access settings.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said controller is further arranged to upload said suggested access settings.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus is a server or a client or both.

10. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions stored therein, the computer-readable program instructions comprising:

program instructions configured to receive, from a user other than an owner of an image, a request to change the access settings of the image, the request indicating at least a portion of the image and suggested access settings for the at least a portion;

program instructions configured to cause the owner of the image to be prompted to change the access settings in response to receiving the request to change the access settings; and

program instructions configured to receive an indication from the owner to adopt the suggested access settings.

11. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions stored therein, the computer-readable program instructions comprising:

program instructions configured to receive a request for an image;

program instructions configured to determine whether access settings associated with selected portions of said image are fulfilled;

program instructions configured to cause image data representing said image to be provided in response thereto;

program instructions configured to receive, from a user other than an owner of the image,

a request to change the access settings associated with the image; and

program instructions configured to cause the owner of the image to be prompted to change the access settings of the image in response to receiving the request to change the access settings.

12. An apparatus incorporating and implementing a computer readable medium according to claim 10 .

13. A method comprising:

receiving a request for an image;

determining, using a processor, whether access settings associated with selected portions of said image are fulfilled;

causing image data representing said image to be provided in response thereto;

receiving, from a user other than an owner of the image, a request to change the access settings associated with the image; and

causing the owner of the image to be prompted to change the access settings of the image in response to receiving the request to change the access settings.

14. A method according to claim 13 , wherein said request comprises user identification and wherein said determination is based on said user identification.

15. A method according to claim 13 , wherein said image data comprise information on masked portions of the image.

16. A method according to claim 13 , wherein said image data represents said image with masked portions.

17. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising requesting said access settings.

18. A method comprising:

receiving, from a user other than an owner of an image, a request to change the access settings of an image, the request to change the access settings indicating at least a portion of the image and suggested access settings for the at least a portion;

causing, using a processor, the owner of the image to be prompted to change the access settings in response to receiving the request; and

receiving an indication from the owner to adopt the suggested access settings.

19. A method according to claim 18 , further comprising associating said suggested access settings with said image and storing said access settings.

20. A method according to claim 18 , further comprising uploading said suggested access settings.

21. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said apparatus is a server or a client or both.

22. An apparatus incorporating and implementing a computer readable medium according to claim 11 .