Ben Affleck has hit out at paparazzi who try to take photos of his children.

The 41-year-old actor understands his career as an actor and director and his wife Jennifer Garner's Hollywood fame means they will attract attention but he doesn't think it is fair that their children - Violet, eight, four-year-old Seraphina and 21-month-old Samuel - have to face media scrutiny.

He told Playboy magazine: ''You can say what you want about me. You can yell at me with a video camera and be TMZ. You can follow me around and take pictures all you want. I don't care. There are a couple of guys outside right now. Terrific. That's part of the deal. But it's wrong and disgusting to follow children around and take their picture and sell it for money.''

Ben thinks his kids shouldn't be in the limelight since they didn't make the decision to be celebrities - but were simply born into that world.

He added: ''My kids aren't celebrities. They never made that bargain ... As their father it's my job to protect them from that stuff. I try my very best, and sometimes I'm successful. The tragic thing is, people who see those pictures naturally think it's sweet.''

Earlier this year, Jennifer and Halle Berry teamed up to get Senate Bill 606 passed in California in a bid to protect the privacy of the children.

This means from January 1, 2014, a paparazzo who is convicted of harassing a minor who has been targeted due to his or her's parent's profession can spend up to a year in jail or be subjected to a hefty fine.