The Island’s Data Protection Supervisor has accused the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure of violating people’s privacy over CCTV on buses.
Cameras which face outwards have been filming people up to forty-five feet away from Bus Vannin’s vehicles, often on private land.
But the department says it will continue to keep its cameras rolling as it appeals against an enforcement notice served on it by the ODPS.
And that, according to Iain McDonald, means the government is continuing to breach a Council of Europe convention on privacy.
Although Bus Vannin didn’t tell the public about the footage it’s been collecting, it has handed over tapes to police in the past.
Mr McDonald says his office tried holding talks with the DCCL, but these failed – leading to the enforcement notice.
He says the external cameras may well have recorded people – without their knowledge – whilst they were at home.
An appeal hearing to decide the issue is expected to be held in early April, but the DCCL says its CCTV systems will operate as normal until then.
