A citizen can see video surveillance images that concern him. This little-known right, however, requires a series of procedures that the independent journalist David Libeau wanted to facilitate. With his site Camerci.fr, he brings together the cameras of the Paris police headquarters.
Created on February 25, in just one weekend, the site currently lists 1,300 cameras. The tool aims to facilitate the request for access to images. Thus, on the map, the user specifies his position, receives the coordinates of the nearest cameras and can automatically generate a standard email requesting access to the prefecture.
This practice complies with the law, more specifically with article L253-5 of the internal security code: “Anyone interested can contact the person in charge of a video protection system to obtain access to the recordings that concern them. […]. This access is by right”.
If the application is accepted, the applicant can make an appointment and present a copy of an identity document. a journalist from Release he was able to watch 15 minutes of two videos at the police station.
some limits
Except that the prefecture no longer accepts applications through the David Libeau site since last week and requires going through its own form, a longer and more tedious procedure: “reason for the application, if there were legal proceedings initiated, copy of the identity card of identity”, lists David Libre with Release.
It also announced that it had seized the National Commission for Informatics and Liberties (CNIL) on March 3 to “enforce our rights.”
However, digital lawyer Alexandre Archambault challenged David Libeau on Twitter.
It specifies that this right cannot be exercised as long as the person presents a specific reason of a valid nature and that any abuse may lead to denials or even fines.
Debates around video surveillance are agitated in France with the proximity of the 2024 Olympic Games. The CNIL has indicated that it is opposed to facial recognition in the video surveillance systems of the Olympic Games. For its part, the Senate approved on January 24 the bill that includes the use of algorithms in the systems.
Source: BFM TV
