CCTV Cameras have become highly popular in Ireland as a functional technology for maintaining security, used, not only by offices and showrooms but also by homeowners and farm owners to extend better security for the property as well as for the family, pets and livestock.

Home surveillance systems are easily available, affordable and simple to install, but they also come with a legal liability that all users should comply with.

How Are You Legally Liable For Using CCTV Camera in Cork

While the soul concern for getting new security cameras installed into their premises is for their own safety, still, they are indirectly intruding someone else's privacy by possessing their "personal data". For example, sometimes within proximity, your camera can also cover footage of your neighbor's house through an open window, it may also record the face of your Amazon delivery guy, it may also capture the number plate of a car passing by the front of your house.

While you may think that this footage doesn't mean anything, they are legally recognised as personal data and puts you in the position of a "data controller" keeping other's personal data without their knowledge.

The data controller is liable to use all recognisable data responsibly. You cannot publish the footage on social media even if you capture something funny anything suspicious or domestic violence. Moreover, it is unlawful in Ireland to share CCTV footages containing any recognisable personal data until and unless for legal purposes and only with a legal authoritative person. Installation of the CCTV camera has some guidelines too, that it has to cover the greater portion of the owner's premises and even if it captures some portion of the neighbour's house or premise, it must have to be circumstantial.

It is recommended to use signs informing that your visitors are on camera and the notification must be placed at a spot where everybody can see it and read it.

What Is The Legal Protection Act And What It Means For Home CCTV Users

The Data Protection Act 2018 is legislation contained in the General Data Protection Regulation, Article II. It is a rule that applies for CCTV Installation in Cork as well as other Irish cities. The regulation justly makes sure that the cameras and the footages are used fairly and transparently and never becomes a source of privacy infringement or harassment. There are no legal documentation or permits to be obtained for this purpose, but you should not violate the legal principles of collecting, storing and using the footage that covers any other person, property, car number plate etc. other than of yourself.

Today, people can use Security Cameras that can be operated via mobile phones, and sometimes the mobiles are not password protected. This system makes your domestic CCTV camera an Unsecured Camera, that is easy to be hacked into. The Private Security Authority Ireland, strongly recommends that data controllers, especially who use Smart Home Security systems should take password protection more seriously when using CCTV Cameras, as a sign of responsibility. The PSA also recommends that users also get CCTV Installation in Cork though PSA-licensed supplier and installer of security cameras and such organisations should also be ready to help you with maintenance and repair needs. Moreover, in certain cases, if valuable data gets infringed or someone is harassed via your CCTV footage, with or without your knowledge, and it is discovered that you employed an unlicensed contractor, then you may be penalised a sum of €3,000 or even imprisonment of up to 5 years based on the sensitivity of the issue. So be responsible.