Matthew Xuereb
Taxi CCTV cameras could be illegal
'We want to know who will be viewing the footage'
The Data Protection Commissioner will be looking into the government's plans to install CCTV cameras in taxis for possible invasion of privacy. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
The Data Protection Commissioner is looking into the decision to install surveillance cameras in taxis because the equipment could invade passenger privacy.
Data Protection Commissioner Joseph Ebejer said his office wanted to ensure the introduction of CCTV cameras in taxis were in line with certain safeguards included in the Data Protection Act.
Surveillance cameras and a remote tracking system are part of the reform of the taxi sector announced by the government last week.
Their introduction was a sore point with taxi drivers who, when the draft reform was published for consultation, had pointed out it might be an invasion of their clients' privacy.
Transport Minister Austin Gatt has defended the use of such equipment, saying this and other measures had been accepted by the association representing taxi drivers in the final agreement on the reform. The taxis will be equipped with closed-circuit TV cameras that would transmit footage to Transport Malta. The footage would only be accessible to the police in the event of a crime, Dr Gatt said.
But Mr Ebejer is worried about who would have access to the footage and how the images would be stored.
The office would look into the matter to "see that the proper parameters are respected. We want to know who will be viewing this footage and where it is going to be stored and for how long. CCTV footage is private information and data protection provisions prevail," he said.
Mr Ebejer said he was aware that similar surveillance cameras were installed in taxis in several countries but this did not mean it was automatically acceptable here because data protection laws varied in different countries.
Surveillance cameras in taxis in the US and the UK were introduced because of crimes against taxi drivers.
Transport Malta was asked to justify the introduction of the cameras but the questions remained unanswered at the time of writing.
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Marcel Mejlaq
Jun 3rd 2010, 22:41
As far as I know, there has never been a serious incident in the taxi driving sector which prompts the need for CCTV surveillance in taxis.
There are other places of priorty in Malta and Gozo which needs 24 hours surveillance, and not taxi drivers
J Galea
Jun 3rd 2010, 21:29
For once the taxi drivers are right. What on earth do you need CCTV in a taxi for? What is this? Pyongyang?
J. Debono
Jun 3rd 2010, 17:02
They are not illegal in the UK.
Now why, and oh why, should they be illegal in Malta.
Is this another case of only in Malta??!!
L Fenech
Jun 3rd 2010, 16:30
Allura it-Taxi CCTV cameras jekk xtrajtuhom ghax ma tuzawhomx fil-Parliament minflok?
salvatore morgan
Jun 3rd 2010, 11:58
Their introduction was a sore point with taxi drivers who, when the draft reform was published for consultation, had pointed out it might be an invasion of their clients' privacy...how kind of taxi drivers to acknowlege that they care for thier passengers privacy. CCTV should be introduced so as to protect not only the taxi driver(s) but also the passenger(s) this way abuses from both sides can be curtailed. Also should there be a crime the courts will know who is at fault and who has something to do. For their safety taxi drivers should embrace this measure.
Anna Farrugia
Jun 3rd 2010, 11:47
The CCTV is there to safeguard both the driver and passenger! Privacy! What privacy? What do passengers wish to do as they are being driven from point A to point B? If both driver & passenger have nothing to hide or be afraid of, then they should open it with open arms as it could save lifes & might even retrive moneies that clients don't wish to pay!
M. Grima
Jun 3rd 2010, 11:27
Every registered taxi in the UK has a sticker at the front and back stating that CCTV is there for your own and the driver's safety. The UK has made exceptions to such filming.
I am in favour of it. As long as no report is filed within 4 weeks, the images should be destroyed. Like that, a window is available to create a balance between safety and data protection. This system is used prior to boarding a UK connecting internal flight. An image of each passenger is taken, but then erased from the system once all passengers disembark successfully without any reports being filed for whatever reason (especially terrorism).
We should not use data protection as an excuse for everything. Sometimes we have to be sensible in order to maximise all safety interests.