Being watched by video cameras while at work or in the home is a significant interference with a person’s personality rights. However, if there are important reasons for monitoring, this may be possible under certain circumstances. From the perspective of data protection, the concrete design of video camera surveillance is crucial.
Camera Surveillance
What is the Importance and Implementation of the Camera Surveillance
When is video surveillance allowed?
Most people view watching through a video camera as the most unpleasant kind of surveillance because it is so comprehensive. After all, not just a simple log with little technical information is created. But every movement and every facial expression is recorded. Since this constitutes a serious interference with the privacy of the person concerned, video surveillance is only permissible if there is a correspondingly serious justification for the specific case.
The proportionality of the camera surveillance is important:
An admissible observation purpose can be the perception of the house right. Basically, the owner of a property is allowed to set up cameras to protect the object. But this right is subject to strict conditions and must by no means be understood as a license. If for example, the entrance area of a building is to be monitored, the camera must not detect more than just this area. Public areas such as the street in front of the front door should not usually be monitored by camera.
But even within the property boundaries, the interests of those affected, such as the employees of a company or the tenant of a residential building to protect. Anyone who wants to set up a camera is obliged to prove that he does not hurt them.
What motivates employers to do camera surveillance in the workplace?
In most workplaces, there will probably be no camera in the immediate vicinity of the place of action that records the actions of the employee. But under certain circumstances, supervisors always resort to having office space etc. monitored.
The decisive factors here are not only the frequent thefts of company property. Also, the assumption that some workers with the break regulation does not look very close and like to start a little earlier in the daily recovery time and this excessively expands, may be the reason that an employee monitoring is done with the camera.
The implementation of the camera surveillance is important:
Once the question has been answered as to whether there is sufficient reason for installing a surveillance system. The equally important question arises as to how so secretive video recordings are generally prohibited unless special conditions are met. The persons concerned must be informed about the circumstances of the observation and also the responsible body.
Appropriate signs must be clearly visible. Anyone who wants to enter the monitored area must first come across a corresponding unmistakable clue so that the freedom of choice is given to escape the monitoring. If the records are attributable to individual persons, those affected must also be informed about the nature of the processing and use of the recordings. It should also be noted that video recordings may only be used for the intended purpose. If this is fulfilled, the records must also be deleted immediately.