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How to stay on the right side of privacy laws with your Doorbell camera

It is becoming increasingly common for households have some form of camera on their property, but there is more to it than simply putting the camera up and enjoying the freedom to see who is ringing on your door.  Whether the cameras are part of a full CCTV system or just a single camera doorbell there are rules and regulations that need to be followed to ensure the public’s privacy. In this guide we will take a look at the rules and regulations relating to domestic doorbell cameras and  CCTV systems.

What are Privacy laws?

In the UK there are two main pieces of legislation that protect people’s privacy. These are the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The DPA 2018 is the UK’s enactment of the European GDPR. In general data protection laws do not apply to domestic properties if they are recording images for purely personal and household activity. Now this is a very rigid definition and if any of the CCTV images that are recorded on a domestic camera show any person outside the boundary of the property, such as on a public footpath, in a neighbour’s garden or even in shared spaces, then the data protection laws do apply. It is important to note here, that a live feed only would not fall under the laws. It is only if images are recorded that the laws apply, so a live feed only camera would not be subject to data protection laws. Any visitor to a private residence and whose image is recorded solely within the boundaries of that property will not have any specific protection rights under data protection laws.

Data protection law compliance is overseen in the UK by the Information Commissioner’s office (ICO)

How to comply with Data Protection laws

If a camera whether it be a video doorbell or part of a larger CCTV system, records images which are outside of the boundary of the property, then those recordings are subject to data protection laws and any property owner will need to comply with them. Compliance is relatively easy, though.

The first step is to decide if using CCTV is right in the first place. Is there another way to protect the property? If not then can the cameras be oriented in a way that no recordings of people in public or shared spaces occurs? Can the system be set up for live feed only so no recordings are made at all?

If none of that is possible then the following steps need to be followed:

  • Make a written statement explaining why the use of CCTV and the recording images is required and for what purpose. This is important as, if either a member of the public or the ICO ask why images are being recorded, this written statement will be required.
  • Signs need to be put up in prominent locations clearly stating that images are being recorded
  • The system should be set up so that no more than is absolutely necessary is recorded.
  • Any videos that are captured are stored in a secure manner so that access to them is strictly limited. Any apps should be password protected for example.
  • Recordings should only be kept for as long as absolutely needed, so should be deleted regularly
  • The recordings are only used for the manner in which they were intended according to the written statement.
  • If a member of the public wishes to check what recordings have been made of them, the camera owner must within 1 month give them a copy of the recordings.
  • If asked by a member of the public all images of them must be deleted within one month unless there is a legitimate legal dispute which requires the images to be kept. In this case, the person requesting that the data is deleted must be informed of this
  • Ensure that no recordings are uploaded or streamed online without robust justification. It is very rare that uploading or streaming images online without the person’s written consent would be justified.
  • Maintain records of how the images are captured, why they were captured and how long they are kept for.

Anyone failing to comply with data protection laws could be subject to enforcement by the ICO and also could be subjected to legal action by an individual who feels they have had their rights violated so it is important to comply with the legislation.

Having a video doorbell is not illegal in any way but it does come with responsibilities and these should not be taken lightly. By ensuring that all the requirements under law are complied with there should be absolutely no issue with recording images on a video doorbell. In this way any passers by have their rights preserved and the owner of the property feels safe and secure. It’s a win/win.