The group, also known as the "Article 29 Working Party" because it was established by Art. 29 of Directive 95/46 EC on Data Protection, is concerned that the proliferation of image acquisition systems such as CCTV cameras in public and private areas may result in placing unjustified restrictions on citizens' rights and fundamental freedoms.
In its Working Document on the Processing of Personal Data by means of Video Surveillance, the group claims:
"Whereas video surveillance appears to be somehow justified under certain circumstances, there are also cases in which protection is sought impulsively by means of video cameras without adequately considering the relevant prerequisites and arrangements.
"This is sometimes due to the economic benefits granted on a large scale by public bodies as well as to the offer of better insurance terms in connection with the use of video surveillance equipment."
According to the Working Party, the current diversities in Member States' national laws regulating video surveillance require a more systematic and harmonised approach.
The Working Document is concerned with surveillance "aimed at the distance monitoring of events, situations and occurrences".
The document examines the definition of surveillance under the Directive, and details Member States' relevant national provisions. It also outlines areas where the Directive is wholly or partly inapplicable (such as the processing of sound and image data for purposes concerning national security).
The document considers the way the data protection principles should be applied in video surveillance, focusing on criteria to make the processing of data collected through CCTV cameras legitimate, and on the rights of data subjects and the obligations of data controllers.
Finally, the Working Document draws attention to video surveillance in the employment context, an issue that has already been considered in a separate Working Document issued in May 2002.
Building on the considerations made in that document, the new Working Document provides that "video surveillance systems aimed directly at controlling, from a remote location, quality and amount of working activities, therefore entailing the processing of personal data in this context, should not be permitted as a rule."
The Working Party is inviting all interested parties to submit their opinions on the issue before 31 May, 2003.
The Working Document on the Processing of Personal Data by means of Video Surveillance and details on how comments or position papers should be submitted are available here.