Video surveillance "is a threat to fundamental rights, such as privacy and free movement, and concerns the protection of personal information". The European Commission for Democracy through Rights (also known as the Venice Commission) announced in Strasbourg today their opinion about "compatibility between video surveillance in public places and the protection of fundamental freedoms". This practice is by now widespread in Europe, mostly because of new public security requirements. The Commission which belongs to the Council of Europe lists some tips: "regularly report any filmed areas"; "create a nationwide independent agency to ensure such installations are legal", according "to the needs expressed by the European Convention for Human Rights". As to video surveillance by private operators, the Commission "views it as a similar danger for individual freedoms and advises anyone concerned by such practice that they can have access to information about themselves and be informed of the use of such information". In addition, the Commission asks the public authorities to conduct regular inspections.
