Firms may have to revise their use of closed-circuit
television to monitor workers following the publication today of
anew code of practiceby theInformation Commissioner's
Office.
The ICO found seven out of 10 individuals oppose the use of CCTV
cameras that record their conversations, and half did not know the
Data
Protection Act covers CCTV surveillance.
The ICO said the use of sound recording was "highly intrusive"
and warned organisations that its use would be justified only in
"highly exceptional circumstances".
The code of practice outlines the key issues that organisations
and businesses must consider when routinely capturing images of
individuals on their CCTV equipment.
The code also sets out what they need to do to ensure
individuals can use their rights.
Jonathan Bamford, assistant commissioner at the ICO, said the
code would help people feel that the increasing use of CCTV
surveillance would not result in a
"Surveillance State".
"CCTV can be extremely intrusive, monitoring ordinary
individuals as they go about their day-to-day business. It is
essential that organisations and businesses use CCTV responsibly to
maintain public trust and confidence in the use of CCTV and to
prevent its use becoming increasingly viewed as part of the
surveillance society," he said.
The code also provides advice on the retention and use of CCTV
images and outlines some of the circumstances when it would be
appropriate to disclose images captured by CCTV, for example, to
law enforcement bodies for the investigation of a crime.