German gov’t approves bill on increased video surveillance in public places

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet has passed draft legislation proposed by the Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere that would allow increased video surveillance in various public areas and on transport networks.

The amendment to the German private data protection law would make it easier for the operators of various public facilities to set up more sophisticated surveillance systems and increase the number of surveillance cameras they use.

The bill’s aim is to “increase the security level in Germany,” the government’s statement said, adding that “protection of lives, health and freedom of people via video surveillance conducted by private operators in publicly accessible areas should be considered as ‘an issue of particular importance’.”

The new regulation will apply to “all sorts of public facilities” such as sports and entertainment venues, as well as to shopping centers, and especially Christmas markets. It also covers the issue of video surveillance in public transport, including trains, busses and water transport.

At the same time, operators of public facilities are “not obliged” to enhance security measures or to increase the scale of video surveillance, the government’s statement adds, stressing, however, that the federal government “would strongly recommend” that operators “make use of this opportunity.”

The draft legislation “should make it easier for the operators to decide to contribute to [the] security of their clients – both in their own and in public interests,” the statement said.

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