Cameras in work

aligator_am

Howdy,

Just wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction on this one, a couple of years back we found out that our company had put hidden cameras in the celing (were hidden above the celing tiles). Once they were found then management put in those type of cameras that have the black semi sphere type thing that hides which direction they're pointing, but there are no signs up anywhere in the building that indicate that there are cameras present (there are signs saying that cameras are present in the Park West area, but none in the building).

What I'm trying to find out is this illegal, I was under the impression that it was required to have signs up that tell you cameras are present, also, I would have thought it was illegal to have hidden cameras present.

I'm based off site for the past couple of years, but would still like to find out about this.

eire2009

Not to sure but from my experience the hidden cameras can be used by an employer if they want but cant be used as evidence to terminate a contract, but can be used to prosecute someone by the police. Usually people don't know this and leave their job once shown the evidence so as not to get prosecuted.
Kind of a gray area

As for signs I think once there noticeable and not hidden there is no need for signs as the cameras pose as a sign themselves.

gerrycollins

If the area is public access a sign must be put somewhere at the entry points ie main door.

If its a closed office then it has to be in your contracts.

if neither then you can only claim invasion of privacy if the camera is directly pointed at you in a observational role.

if a camera is pointed at the door and picks up a quarter of your desk then you can do feck all about it however if its pointed directly at you and they dont tell you then they have to answer for it.

all shops get away will cameras over the tills as they pick up the customer too so if asked they can say it is just a by product that they can pick up your cash activity on the same camera.

Corruptedmorals

If you can see the cameras, why do you need a sign saying there are cameras? Really it never crosses my mind, I am no camera all the time I'm on tills, when I'm clocking out/in, when I'm leaving by the side door and numerous other times on loads of cameras just crossing the floor, in the stockroom, in the lift. So what?

bbam

eire2009 wrote: »

Not to sure but from my experience the hidden cameras can be used by an employer if they want but cant be used as evidence to terminate a contract, but can be used to prosecute someone by the police. Usually people don't know this and leave their job once shown the evidence so as not to get prosecuted.
Kind of a gray area

As for signs I think once there noticeable and not hidden there is no need for signs as the cameras pose as a sign themselves.

Ah jesus... Does nobody say Garda any more

wmpdd3

It's the data protection act 1998 you'd be looking at. Few details here:

http://www.dataprotection.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=242