That is far from correct.

People can be photographed if they are in public (without their consent) unless they have secluded themselves and can expect a reasonable degree of privacy. Kids swimming in a fountain? Okay. Somebody entering their PIN at the ATM? Not okay. You are even protected to take photos of private property, as long as you are on public, even if it is into your neighbors window, as long as the curtains are open, and there has been no attempt to close them. Key phrase is there is no expectation of privacy, and person is not legally protected by intellectual property rights, as long as you are in a place viewable by the public. How do you think the paparazzi gets away with celebrity nipple slips on private beaches?