Using Video Cameras Responsibly: Policies and Aptitudes

As technology advances at an ever increasing rate and the kinds of video cameras on the market and what each can record becomes more and more complex, there's a need for each person or company that uses the best of this technology to have at least a video camera policy if not a more complete video surveillance policy.


New Technology

At least in part it's the new technology that's coming out that makes it more important than ever to have clearly defined boundaries. Even now, wireless Internet video cameras are out on the market courtesy of companies like Linksys that can record and transmit video over wireless networks. As well there are many different varieties of surveillance cameras on the market already. As a result, a need has become apparent to adopt a standardized Policy on Video Surveillance Cameras with a few overriding guide lines.


1) The Need To Use Video Surveillance Only Where A Problem Exists.

This is one of the guidelines that has been adopted right across the board to thwart any attempts to misuse any video surveillance policy. Some of the criteria here that address the guideline properly include crime statistics and real evidence that concerns public safety.

2) Evidence That All Other Avenues Have Been Exhausted.

Because of the overriding safety concerns, all the experts agree that the need for a comprehensive Policy on Video Surveillance Cameras should only be adopted after all other avenues have been exhausted. In all areas, people studying the need for any kind of video camera policy agreed that any other method should be chosen unless they could not be adopted.

3) Fair Information Practices Need To Be Adopted.

Of course the biggest concern deals with privacy issues, so it's generally agreed that the information that's collected should be minimal, and the any recordings that are made should only be kept for a specified amount of time. As well the best policy will have a strict procedure about the disclosure of any information gathered.


Of course there are other guidelines for a video camera policy, but all are designed to protect the public's safety as well as the rights of shop owners and homeowners alike. The difficulty lies in balancing these rights against the right to privacy, and for that reason the guidelines surrounding any Policy on Video Surveillance Cameras needs to have a consultation process built in.