CCTV monitoring web site is censured by the ICO

THE UK INFORMATION COMMISSIONER has asked a CCTV monitoring web site to make some changes to its business practices after identifiable footage of an individual appeared online.

The ICO has reacted after video of someone in a shop was posted at Youtube. Although we are not aware of what they were doing, or what shop they were in, the regulator said that it was clear who the person was, and thus, was not the done thing.

"CCTV footage should not end up on YouTube when it shows someone simply out doing their shopping. A person's CCTV image is their personal data. The law says that it should only be disclosed where necessary, such as for the purposes of crime detection, and not merely for entertainment," said deputy commissioner David Smith.

"Although we have only received one complaint about Internet Eyes, we have investigated fully and have required them to make changes to the way their system operates. We are now satisfied that they have met our requirements. We will though continue to keep a close watch on them and do not rule out taking more formal enforcement action if further complaints are received."

Peering at people in shops is what Internet Eyes is all about, as it works as remote, internet-based surveillance of people. Although it's fine for registered members to watch the coming and goings inside retail stores - in fact they get rewards for reporting crimes, it's not so cool to post them online. Particularly when you can't work out who has done so.

The ICO found that not only could no one say who had posted the video clip online, but also that the firm was not keeping any records of its viewers' activities, making us wonder whether it had ever heard of the regulator in the first place.

It has now though, and according to the ICO it has carried out a number of random spot checks to see if the watchmen are indeed watching themselves. µ