I have a friend who lives in the town centre and has a 24hour webcam which overlooks a busy public space where people walk past all day and night, also it happens to look down onto some private property.

I expressed my concern that he might be braking the law, but have been unable to find a definitive view of this on the internet. Does anyone with any experience or legal knowledge know what the current legal view is about this.

thanks :thumbsup:

Yes, exactly the same as any CCTV system which record the public, you should display a sign which says who is doing the recording & what what purpose.

technically I think if you are using surveillance equipment of any kind (where people may be indentifiable) then you need signs up to inform people (and that's on your own private property). Technically on public property you need permission from the council.

Whether a web cam is considered to provide pictures that allow people to be identified I don't know.

I would suspect that it comes under the Human rights act - specifically respect for private and family life - but this might have been overcome by putting a sign up indicating cctv in use.

right sorry its the other way round - its not a CCTV pointing at his private property - doh

he has a webcam pointing out of his house on to the street

where does the stream feed - online somewhere presumably ?

in that case :huh:

If he's recording and storeing images, then he needs to be registered under the Data Protection Act, I believe. If he's broadcasting them then I'm not sure...is it any different to TV shops having a camcorder set up in the window fliming passers by and displaying the image on a screen?

Wouldn't worry about it - What if i take a photo of something in the city centre or on the beach and there's other people in the background?

Wouldn't worry about it - What if i take a photo of something in the city centre or on the beach and there's other people in the background?
Well I have always understood that a still picture is generally ok as long as it isn't offensive or taken with a telephoto lens. Whereas moving pictures are a different matter.

I have just spoken to my mate and he says that the picture on his web cam isn't really clear enough to identify anyone's face, or read a registration plate on a car. And he has been told because of this it is exempt. Same as all the beach and university web cams you can see from all over the world.

he has a webcam pointing out of his house on to the street

where does the stream feed - online somewhere presumably ?

in that case :huh:
Aparrently he is making a website about city centre life in sheffield and he wants to have the live stream on there. I am really impressed how easy it was to set up as I help him with the router and cabling.

technically I think if you are using surveillance equipment of any kind (where people may be indentifiable) then you need signs up to inform people (and that's on your own private property).

Not quite. Static cameras can be fitted with no signs displayed, moveable (i.e. PTZ cameras) have to have signs up informing people.

Info on the DPA here (http://www.thesecurityinstaller.co.uk/CCTV_dpa1998.asp)

If you are recording movies of the public, any individual who is caught on film has the right to see/review a copy of the tape/recording.
To refuse is a criminal offence, with NO exeptions!

I'm pretty sure that it's video where people may be personally identifiable. Hence the blanking out of some peoples faces when close in the background on live/reality tv sometimes.

In the case of a webcam, you'd need to be within a few metres to be identifiable.

I'm pretty sure that it's video where people may be personally identifiable. Hence the blanking out of some peoples faces when close in the background on live/reality tv sometimes.

I think that's to do with obtaining permission for the broadcast of video containing them.

Another example of the requirement for consent relates to the publication of group photos on websites. For example, if a university wanted to publish on its website a group photo of new graduates in their gowns at the graduation ceremony (e.g. the class of 2006) it would have to obtain the express permission of each and every person on the photo.

Whereas I am still waiting to be arrested for my holiday photos, with many people in the background which are on my website :D

Whereas I am still waiting to be arrested for my holiday photos, with many people in the background which are on my website :D

Where they topless ? :D

Where they topless ? :D

Different website.

so next door has just chopped the hedge down (see my other posting) and now has a webcam which overlooks our front door, they live in a council house, surely we have privacy rights etc , as they are a known criminal family to the local police , could we argue that they are watching us? (touch of paranoia here lol) or maybe they are watching out for the next police raid! does anyone know what our rights are? or what the laws are on cctv?

went to police and they just said they have the right to protect their property!!

Josie,
Unless you are worried that they are watching you come and go so they can burgle your empty house when they have noticed you all out or attack you as you leave, ( unlikely as they're next door ) I would be quite happy with a near neighbour covering my property with their camera.

The only thing I could possibly object to is someone spying into my bathroom or bedroom or something like that.

technically they may be breaking the law though, try contacting the council and see what they say about unauthorised surveillance.