Information Commissioner warns on CCTV microphones

Story link: Information Commissioner warns on CCTV microphones by Jan Harris

Speaking at a Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry in London, Information Commissioner Richard Thomas said that fitting microphones to CCTV cameras in the street was unacceptable.

Mr Thomas also said that he opposed the installation of small hidden cameras in public places and questioned the use of loudspeakers that tell people to stop anti-social behaviour.

Mr Thomas called for the Information Commissioner’s Office to be given greater authority, including powers of inspection. He said that privacy impact assessments should be introduced to ensure organisations consider how they can minimise the threat to privacy and address all the risks of new surveillance before implementation.

Such measures, he said, are necessary to ensure public confidence in initiatives and technologies that could otherwise accelerate the growth of a surveillance society.