CNIL watching video surveillancesystem

A video surveillance system has been installed in Lille city buses in northern France. The system records images and sounds continuously in order to improve driver and passenger safety. Only police can access the audio and video footage, and the recordings are deleted after a period of 48 hours.

The bus company notified the French data protection authority, CNIL, of the surveillance before implementing. CNIL responded that that the system should not be implemented, as continuous recording would be disproportionate to the purpose of the system and, therefore, not justified. The authority suggested that recording could be triggered by the bus driver in the instance of an assault or other event. CNIL officials followed up with an unannounced onsite investigation in May 2008.

This is a first-stage opinion from the CNIL. The bus company will appear before the CNIL this month to analyse the results of an audit. The CNIL will then render a final decision.