Spy Cameras And The Law - The 10 Essentials You Need To Know
Posted April 05, 2016 in
Features

If youre planning to use surveillance cameras, its important to familiarise yourself on the legal side of things. Here are the 10 key points you need to know:
- If you share your recordings without the subjects consent, you could be in breach of Data Protection laws. This means sharing it online or with third parties, or even losing the footage.
- You cannot use surveillance cameras in areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. For example, in toilets, changing rooms and locker rooms in the workplace.
- It is legal to film in a property you own, such as a home or business, as long as you are doing it for a legitimate and legal reason. If you can demonstrate a legitimate reason for operating spy cameras, such as gathering evidence for a legal case or due to security concerns, then you can legally film on property you own.
- If you dont own the property, you cant install cameras on or in it. Unless its your home or business, you dont have the legal right to film either the inside or the exterior.
- You mustnt invade anyone elses privacy when filming in public spaces. For example, if you were using surveillance cameras to catch fly-tippers on your street or filming outside your property to ward off intruders, you must only point your cameras at the spot in question not into your neighbours bedroom window.
- If youre filming in public, you must put up signs to make people aware of your cameras. A clear sign alerting members of the public of your CCTV cameras is a legal necessity.
- Public filming must also be registered with the Information Commissioners Office. This is another part of the Data Protection Act, as by operating CCTV cameras in public, you become a data controller and must register with the ICO failure to do so is a criminal offence.
- If youre filming in secret, using covert cameras, you must only use the footage for its intended purpose. This must also be for a legitimate reason, such as an authentic concern over security.
- It is your responsibility to look after the footage. This means not leaving it where just anyone can find it including attacks by hackers accessing your computer and not sharing or selling it to any third parties. This would be a breach of the Data Protection Act.
- If youre filming in the workplace, there are several things you need to do as an employer. These include carrying out an impact assessment, to determine any negative effects the surveillance may have on employees, as well as considering less intrusive alternatives. You should make employees aware of whats happening and explain the benefits, but if youve carried out an impact assessment and can justify the need to film then you dont usually need to ask for staff members consent.
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