Can you install video surveillance cameras anywhere?

Internet company installed cameras that broadcast live images to the population on the internet. Experts explain whether it is allowed

Per Kebim Tamanini

Did you know that it is possible to follow in real time what is happening in some municipalities in Espírito Santo? In six cities in the south of Espírito Santo, an internet company installed cameras in 23 points that broadcast 24 hours a day what happens in tourist and busy spots.

We are not talking about the video surveillance cameras that some public bodies place on roads to carry out inspection and surveillance work. These are images that can be accessed by anyone on the IZ1 Telecom website, which broadcasts what happens on roads in Rio Novo do Sul, Alfredo Chaves, Anchieta, Iconha, Marataízes and Piúma.

Check out the images available from the municipalities in the south of Espírito Santo here.

There are images of squares, beaches and well-known places such as the Alfredo Chaves free flight ramp, the natural monument O Frade e a Freira, in Rio Novo do Sul, and Monte Aghá, in Piúma. By the way, the Piúma administration formed a partnership with the internet company that also makes the images available on the city hall website.

And can there be cameras broadcasting 24 hours a day?

Many may remember similar services, such as the one presented by the former Rodosol, a concessionaire that managed the 3rd Bridge and Rodovia do Sol and showed traffic on its managed roads, and the Climatempo website, which presents live images of Praça do Papa. Even with the partnership obtained by companies with public bodies for transmission, the question arises: is it allowed to transmit the tracks and make them available on the internet?

ES Brasil magazine sought out experts in Civil Law and the General Data Protection Law (LGPD) to clarify the matter.

Civil lawyer Nívea Mikaela Deps Rios explains that, if the images are not stored, there is no problem installing cameras on the roads. “When you are in a public place, you are not expected to have such a high expectation of privacy. You are in a convivial environment, where people are there with you. Therefore, if the intention is just to play videos from public places at normal times, live, there is no problem”, she explains about the possibility of any person or company installing video surveillance systems.

On its website, IZ1 Telecom informs that cameras are installed in several locations with the aim of strengthening tourism and local commerce. The company highlights that the images are not recorded and that users are not allowed to use them for their own benefit or that of third parties.

Although the main purpose of cameras is not security, they have been able to capture various events in real time, including accidents and even possible criminal activities.

One of the cities that received the installation of the equipment, Piúma, stated that the city hall makes the images available on its own website and that it established a partnership with the company at no cost to the public coffers. The specialist in LGPD and digital law, lawyer Bruno Guerra, reminds us that companies that provide services to public bodies that work with data need to be aware of the LGPD rules, as they are requirements for establishing partnerships.

Nívea Mikaela Deps Rios commented that, if the city hall or municipality has entered into a partnership or agreement with this company to promote its tourist attractions, the ideal would be to make the agreement document available in a place that is easily accessible to the public and disseminate the information in different ways to ensure everyone is aware.

“This would be important to guarantee the principle of transparency, eliminating doubts, questions and insecurities that people may have upon learning that they are being filmed and about the use that will be made of this material”, explained the expert.