“The way is open” for the legal removal of surveillance cameras from the facades of apartment buildings, in accordance with the decision of the Office for the Protection of Personal Data.
The case concerning the “family dispute” reached the Council (Αρχή Προστασίας Προσωπικών Δεδομένων). In particular, citizens living in a two-story house complained against each other (despite the fact that they are inseparable co-owners) for the fact that one side, without the consent of the other, installed a video surveillance system in “public areas”.
The Office for the Protection of Personal Data addressed the issue, stating that “co-owners may collect data for the purposes of protecting persons and property in common areas (κοινόχρηστους χώρους), but not monitor individuals.”
In the absence of regulations, a vote is required to resolve the issue of co-owners. Given that “for” there will be a majority (50% + 1), i.e. consent of more than half of the residents.
The decision of the Office states that the goal of protecting persons and property, to which the applicant refers, “can be achieved by other means, for example, by installing lighting, signaling, installing a video camera only at the entrance to his personal apartment and inside the premises.”
It further emphasizes that “given that the controlled space is shared, it cannot be ruled out that other residents may use it for unknown purposes, especially since part of the protected space includes a common entrance to two apartments.
“As a result, the rights of people living in another part of the building are seriously violated, since they can be monitored, as well as activities closely related to their private lives,” the decision says.
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