More cameras on Marienplatz: Security debate flared up in Schwerin!

More cameras on Marienplatz: Security debate flared up in Schwerin!

Marienplatz, 19053 Schwerin, Deutschland - What is currently going on at Marienplatz in Schwerin? Oh, there's nervousness in the air! The number of crimes has led to this central place more than just talking. The youngest, shattering acts of violence, including the fatal knife attack on a 17-year-old and an assault on police officers, have startled people. In order to fight the rising crime, the debate about increasing video surveillance was initiated. As the Ostsee newspaper reports, the number of cameras on Marienplatz is tripled from eight to a proud 24.

The camera images are saved for seven days, and the police have already announced that they want to use this system not only for hazard defense, but also in the search for missing and investigation of crimes. But not everyone is enthusiastic about this idea. Some citizens are calling for more cameras to be punished. Ostsee-Zeitung cited for increased use of Cameras pronounced, while Ulrich Schloss suggests the use of AI for the live evaluation of pictures.

The reactions of the citizens

What do the Schwerin really think about all the excitement? Jürgen Schmidt has clear views and demands that politics have to worry that citizens do not lose fear of punishments. There is also Norbert Linkmann, who calls for a reform of criminal law and discusses a decline in punishment for young people. Meanwhile, Stefan Trapp expresses doubts about the effectiveness of surveillance, based on the experiences from London, where similar measures did not bring the hoped -for success.

But what does the legal situation on video surveillance say? As the information from datenschutz.sachsen.de shows, police law allows the use of video technology in public spaces to prevent danger. It is interesting here that there are no specific requirements for technology itself. It is important that surveillance happens "openly" so that the citizens can recognize that they are filmed.

Legal aspects of video surveillance

The data protectionists are alarmed: video surveillance intervenes in the personality right of the people. According to the requirements of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the purpose of monitoring must be privileged and the mildest means must also be the desired goal. This means that recordings may only be used for certain purposes, such as the persecution of crimes, and after a month the data must be deleted, unless they are required for legal purposes. In this way, it is also regulated in the Federal Data Protection Act, as can be found on the website of the Federal Representative for data protection ( bfdi.bund.de )

The trend towards expanding video surveillance in Germany remains unbroken. More and more cameras are being installed and modern surveillance systems are increasingly being used by the state and private individuals, including drones and body cams. But how far can that go? The legal framework is set, but the critical handling of the topic remains essential, especially with regard to the protection of the fundamental rights of the citizens.