Dutch privacy monitoring Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (AP) fined Rotterdam Police €50,000 The camera-equipped vehicle was used to monitor whether people were adhering to the 1.5-meter social distancing rule, without first assessing the privacy impact.
The camera took detailed pictures of people on the street and saved them, but it took far more than was strictly necessary, the AP said. The camera worked even when the car was traveling at speeds up to 50 km/h.
Rotterdam City Council and police used vehicles equipped with 360-degree cameras for five weeks from April to June 2020. The camera was very accurate and recorded people’s faces at considerable distances.
“In Holland, the government wants to be free to walk the streets without taking pictures of you from your car,” said AP board member Katja Mur. “When governments use such advanced technology to conduct surveillance, they need to map the risks upfront so they can be carefully assessed.”
The project was halted when AP asked for more information, and the agency launched an investigation following reports that police had resumed using the car.
https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2022/12/police-fined-for-filming-passersby-to-check-on-social-distancing/ Police fined for filming passers-by to ensure social distancing