Complaints about home CCTV systems
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1. Is your complaint about a fixed camera?
Yes – my complaint is about a fixed camera.
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2. Does the camera capture footage outside the boundaries of the user’s property?
Yes – the camera captures footage outside the user’s property.
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3. What is your main concern?
I’ve asked someone to stop filming me and they haven't.
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4. Do you feel the person is using CCTV in a way that is, harassing, intimidating or anti-social?
Yes
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5. Have you contacted the police?
Yes – they couldn’t help.
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6. What would you like your complaint to the ICO to achieve?
I want the user to understand the impact the filming has on me.
Contact the CCTV user
The ICO can only take action if the user broke data protection laws, eg if they haven’t actioned a request for footage or haven’t deleted footage when asked.
The ICO will write and ask them to follow the rules. There is limited action we can take after this point.
We suggest you follow these steps, if you want the user to understand the negative impact their use of CCTV is having on you:
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- Contact the person – if you are concerned about talking to them in person, you could write them a letter.
- Ask why they are using CCTV – people usually install home CCTV cameras and smart door bells to monitor and protect personal property, and keep the user and their family safe. If you understand why they are recording it may put your mind at ease. You could even share the system, so you can both benefit from the camera’s safety features.
- Explain your concerns – the CCTV user may not understand why you are worried about being recorded. If you explain your reasons, they may change the position of the cameras.
- Ask to see what is being recorded –the footage that is being captured may not be intrusive as you think. If you ask to see an example of what is being captured, it may put your mind at ease.