According to the Flemish Commission for the Supervision of the processing of Personal Data (VTC), local authorities are too often resorting to the use of smart cameras. VTC’s concerns form the basis of an article in the daily ‘De Standaard’ and have since been confirmed to VRT News. The privacy watchdog warns that it will switch off cameras if municipalities do not comply with guidelines. “The cameras are there to reduce rule breaking and not to serve as cash cows”.
VTC is receiving an increasing number of complaints from the public about smart cameras. The Flemish privacy watchdog also notes that ANPR cameras that recognise vehicle number plates are increasingly being used as a standard solution to allow the near permanent mapping of people’s movements.
As the cameras take images of at least one side of a vehicle, its number plate, possibly also its driver and passengers and know both the location and the time when the picture was taken, their processing is “extremely invasive in terms of privacy”, VTC believes.
It has therefore sent a warning and guidelines to all Flemish city and municipal authorities. The guideline was published on VTC’s website last month.
Quick fix, but not always best solution
VTC’s Hans Graux says that “The fact that the cameras are used is not problematic in itself, provided that the parameters for their use are well defined. However, we find that once cameras have been installed, they are used for more and more other purposes.”
“ANPR cameras are often a quick fix, but not always the right one”. The watchdog believes that consideration should be given to alternatives before smart camera systems are installed.
VTC is also critical of some local authorities’ motives for installing smart cameral systems. “They should be used as a means of enforcement and not a a cash cow”.
Getting smart camera systems shut down
All in all, the VTC concludes that local authorities are not giving enough thought to the privacy risks of smart cameras, and not enough measures are being taken to protect the public. If local authorities fail to address VTC’s concerns the VTC can have their system shut down.