On 8 March 2018, the Chamber of Representatives of the Federal Parliament (Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers/Chambre des Représentants) adopted a bill facilitating the use of cameras by both the police and private individuals, and regulating the terms under which intelligence and security services can access camera images (Wetsontwerp tot wijziging van de wet op het politieambt om het gebruik van camera's door de politiediensten te regelen, en tot wijziging van de wet van 21 maart 2007 tot regeling van de plaatsing en het gebruik van bewakingscamera's, van de wet van 30 november 1998 houdende regeling van de inlichtingen- en veiligheidsdiensten en van de wet van 2 oktober 2017 tot regeling van de private en bijzondere veiligheid / Projet de loi modifiant la loi sur la fonction de police, en vue de régler l'utilisation de caméras par les services de police, et modifiant la loi du 21 mars 2007 réglant l'installation et l'utilisation de caméras de surveillance, la loi du 30 novembre 1998 organique des services de renseignement et de sécurité et la loi du 2 octobre 2017 réglementant la sécurité privée et particulière).
The bill updates the rules on the use of cameras by police forces and modifies the general use of surveillance cameras under the Surveillance Camera Law of 21 March 2007.
Use by Police Forces
The bill facilitates the use of various types of surveillance cameras, including covert and mobile cameras as well as bodycams, by police forces. The bill stipulates that the information and personal data that is gathered by means of surveillance cameras can be registered and stored for a maximum period of 12 months. Police forces can access this recorded data and images for one month after the data have been registered if relevant for the performance of their tasks. After the first month, access is restricted and is only permitted on the basis of a written and reasoned decision of the public prosecutor (Procureur des Konings/Procureur du roi). The bill further creates a national register of the locations of all fixed surveillance cameras used by the police forces to facilitate the use of such cameras during police investigations.
General Use
The bill contains provisions on the placement and use of security cameras in the private sector. The bill abolishes the obligation to notify surveillance cameras to the Privacy Commission (Commissie voor de bescherming van de persoonlijke levenssfeer/Commission de la protection de la vie privée), but maintains the obligation to inform police authorities. In addition, the updated rules allow the use of intelligent and mobile cameras and provide more flexible rules on the locations where security cameras can be used and how long images can be stored.
The bill will be signed into law shortly and the new rules will enter into force on 25 May 2018. The bill also provides for a two year transition period to bring existing surveillance cameras in line with the new requirements.
Thibaut D’hulst
Associate
tdhulst@vbb.com
Melody Moodley
Associate
mmoodley@vbb.com
