The number of complaints about video doorbells and other private cameras continues to grow. Last year, the Personal Data Authority received 1,050 phone calls from concerned citizens who believe that cameras in the neighborhood are filming more than is allowed by law. "Privacy is a fundamental right. But because the whole country is now hanging out with private cameras, that right is constantly being violated." So says AP board chairman Aleid Wolfsen in an interview with the Volkskrant (1).
More and more households in the Netherlands have a doorbell with video camera hanging at their front door. According to market researcher Multiscope, 640,000 video doorbells were already hanging in our country by 2021. Meanwhile, there are twice as many, about 1.2 million. That means that one in seven households has a video doorbell.
The regulator is increasingly receiving complaints and phone calls from concerned citizens who feel spied on. They suspect that video doorbells and other private cameras are capturing their private property and parts of public roads on video. In 2022, about 800 Dutch people voiced their concerns to the privacy watchdog; last year there were 1,050.
Normally, employees of the Personal Data Authority investigate on the spot whether European privacy laws are being violated. Due to the increased number of complaints and a shortage of staff, this is not happening. Based on its own research, the regulator concludes that the majority of video doorbells are hanging illegally.
This leads to so much irritation for some that the courts have to step in to pass judgment. According to the Volkskrant, this happened at least 38 times last year. "This is very stressful for people and it costs society money. Enforcement would be better," Wolfsen said.
The police, on the other hand, are pleased to see an increasing number of doorbells with cameras at the front door. The images recorded by these cameras can be useful in investigative investigations. In addition, individuals are increasingly reporting their cameras to Camera in Picture.
Karel van Engelenhoven, Camera in Picture project manager, said earlier this week that the police initiative counts more than 325,000 registered security cameras and that the footage is invaluable (2). Thanks to the recordings from 70,000 private cameras, several murders, rapes and other violent crimes have been solved. When police conduct neighborhood investigations, officers are increasingly requisitioning footage (3) from the cameras.
Moreover, the video material is increasingly being used in court. According to outgoing Minister of Justice and Security Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, this happened in 5,500 court cases between October 2020 and October 2023. "For this reason, I welcome the growth in the number of private cameras registered with the police," the minister wrote in response to written questions from D66, PvdD, DENK and the SP (4).
Wolfsen feels that the police encourage the hanging of security cameras, and that bothers him. He suspects that police officers assume that video doorbells and other private cameras are properly hung and that the images can thus be used as evidence.
Van Engelenhoven disagrees. "If you read the Personal Data Authority properly, it says that you are allowed to secure your property. So also your car, which is parked in the street with a sidewalk in between," he said earlier this week.
The Camera in Picture project manager also emphasizes that the owner of a security or doorbell camera is never in trouble. "It is up to the judge ultimately to determine whether the images may be used in a criminal case. But that's something for the police, not the citizen."
Minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius told the House of Representatives earlier that she is concerned about the large number of misaligned cameras. The minister added that she is glad that privacy watchdogs like the Personal Data Authority and Bits of Freedom are there to call attention to this.
Doubting whether the neighbor's camera is invading your privacy? Then the regulator has some tips (5) to do something about it. First, talk to your neighbors. Ask why they put up a camera and if you can see the footage to see if it is filming your property. If it is, ask if they want to adjust camera differently.
Can't work it out together? Then suggest using neighborhood mediation, such as with the neighborhood police officer or a mediator. If that doesn't work either, ask the legal desk for help. Finally, you can consider filing a complaint with the Personal Data Authority or going to court. Keep in mind that the latter option involves costs, such as court fees.
(1) https://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/slimme-deurbel-leidt-tot-hausse-aan-privacyklachten~b521e5d0/
(2) https://www.vpngids.nl/nieuws/projectleider-camera-in-beeld-van-onschatbare-waarde/
(3) https://www.vpngids.nl/nieuws/politie-vordert-steeds-vaker-videobeelden-deurbelcameras/
(4) https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/kamervragen/detail?id=2023Z16204&did=2023D43855
(5) https://autoriteitpersoonsgegevens.nl/themas/cameratoezicht/cameragebruik-in-en-om-het-huis/gefilmd-worden-door-de-camera-van-iemand-anders
