Shock in Bremen: Elementary school illegally video monitored for years!

Shock in Bremen: Elementary school illegally video monitored for years!

Delfter Straße, Bremen, Deutschland - After years of illegal video surveillance at the Delfter Straße primary school in Huchting, Bremen, the state representative for data protection, Timo Utermark, has initiated a comprehensive examination of all camera missions at Bremen schools. This measure is a direct reaction to the identified violations that have been blown up in the context of an examination. The school had installed a camera system without a legal basis, the operation of which was not coordinated with the educational authority. The main inputs, pause yard entrances and rear entrances to the school were used for monitoring.

The parents were concerned about video surveillance because there were no visible signs or information about the cameras. In March 2023, a father learned from the inadmissible practice through another parent and then turned to the school management, but without getting a timely answer. Finally, the data protection authority found that camera monitoring was illegal because the prerequisites for vandalism prevention were not met. According to mopo , the school led the images to the caretaker's office and to the rector.

Problems with data protection conformity

The monitoring systems in schools must meet strict requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These requirements include that video surveillance is communicated transparently and must be a legal basis for their use. It is absolutely necessary that a careful risk assessment is carried out beforehand before cameras are installed. In the case of the Delfter Straße primary school, such measures had not been implemented. Signs that indicate video surveillance were completely lacking in what the critical voices of the parents continued. As external data protection officer-dresden.de , compliance with the GDPR and the data concerned is essential for legal surveillance measures.

After the data protection authority intervened, the cameras were switched off and broken down. The data carriers with the records were handed over to the competent authority for data protection conformity. These measures clearly show that great attention must be paid to the protection of the personal rights of students and school staff.

legal framework and outlook

In Bremen there are a total of 18 schools with video surveillance that have decided independently. The proposed monitoring may only be carried out under strict requirements and outside of school. The incident at the Delft Straße primary school has now led to a legal framework being evaluated. Parents have also announced that they will take legal action together against the inadmissible camera mission.

The critical developments in Huchting throw a light on the need to cover and legally covered video surveillance in educational institutions. A focus on compliance with the data protection regulations, the intensive information of those affected and a regular review of the systems are indispensable in order to protect the trust of students, parents and teachers. According to Weser-Kurier serve.