Secretive Monitoring at Bremer Primary School Without Appropriate Authorization
In the city of Bremen, an unauthorized video surveillance incident at an elementary school has initiated a comprehensive review of all camera installations in local schools by the state data protection officer. Thus far, no other instances of illegal monitoring have surfaced, as per the latest update provided by data protection officer, Timo Utermark. Nevertheless, the assessment is far from complete, with 18 school sites within Bremen equipped with video cameras.
School Surveillance During School Hours
The media outlet, "Weser-Kurier," first exposed the clandestine operation of a camera system at the elementary school for multiple years. Parents were caught off guard by the covert video surveillance, lacking any prior notice or relevant information regarding the observation. A concerned father reached out to the school management, school authority, and the state data protection department this year. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the camera usage was indeed improper.
According to Timo Utermark, the conditions for video surveillance, such as to combat vandalism, were not fulfilled. The school also failed to provide ample information about the cameras and implement necessary safeguards against unauthorized access to the recordings. The main entrance, break entrance, and rear entrance of the school were all monitored by cameras, with the devices active during school hours, transmitting footage live. Recordings were made from 4:00 PM to 7:00 AM the following day, with the intentions to prevent vandalism. The recordings were then stored and later overwritten after 72 hours. The school management and the caretaker's office had access to the images from the camera system. Upon his intervention, the devices were turned off and removed.
Origin of the System at the Elementary School (1999)
The spokeswoman for the education authority reported that the system was installed more than 25 years ago at the behest of the former school management or caretaker during a renovation. The installation was not coordinated with the education authority. The data carriers were subsequently handed over to the authority to facilitate secure disposal in accordance with data protection laws.
For video surveillance at schools, stringent regulations apply in Germany. Cameras may be utilized, under specified conditions, to prevent and address criminal offenses and vandalism. The purpose must be clearly defined, and a specific reason, such as damage or burglaries, must be present. Surveillance is generally confined to non-school hours.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) govern video surveillance in schools within the nation, necessitating transparency and explicit consent from parents when required. Furthermore, regional authorities, like Bremen, may impose additional regulations. These can include specific requirements for camera placement, data storage, and access controls. Violations of these regulations may lead to legal consequences, such as the removal of cameras.
[1] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videosurveillance_in_Schulen_(Deutschland)[2] https://www.datenschutzbeauftragter-info.de/wichtige-seiten/video-aufhaueungs-in-schule-und-kindertagesstatten.htm[3] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2020/674516/EXPO_STU(2020)674516_EN.pdf[4] https://www.bpb.de/geschichte/achografie/246826/geschichte-der-videoaufnahme-in-der-schule
- The controversy of the unauthorized video surveillance at the elementary school in Bremen has sparked a detailed examination of school surveillance policies and legislation by the state data protection officer, raising concerns about privacy and compliance with data protection regulations in the realm of politics and policy-and-legislation.
- In light of the unauthorized video surveillance incident and the ensuing review, the media is paying particular attention to general-news stories about crime-and-justice within schools, emphasizing the need for transparency, explicit consent from parents, and proper implementation of safeguards in the placement and use of video cameras during school hours, as governed by the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
