The Data Protection Office does not object to the installation of surveillance cameras in taxis provided it is ensured this is in line with the provisions of the Data Protection Act.
When contacted, Data Protection Commissioner Joseph Ebejer said his office was not against the principle of introducing surveillance equipment on taxis.
“Transport Malta has consulted this office on the drafting of the regulations covering the operations of taxis, including the installation of CCTV cameras. It is understood the feedback provided by this office is being considered by Transport Malta,” he said.
He explained that the implications of CCTV cameras in taxis rose from the fact these would be processing personal data. The law defines personal data as “any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person …” while “processing” is taken to mean as “any operation or set of operations which is taken in regard to personal data, whether or not it occurs by automatic means, and includes the collection, recording, organisation, storage, adaptation, alteration, retrieval, gathering, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making information available, alignment or combination, blocking, erasure, or destruction of such data”.
Mr Ebejer confirmed that the Data Protection Office had not been informed about the possibility of also having an audio recording of what happened inside a taxi.
“To date, the possibility of having also audio recording in taxis has not been brought to the attention of or discussed with this office. If the case arises, it will be looked into like any other process involving personal data (and) its implementation will have to be in line with the provisions of the Data Protection Act,” he said.
Transport Malta too denied the possibility there would also be audio recordings along with CCTV footage, which would only be accessible to the police in the event of a crime.
The authority last week issued applications for 20 new taxi operator licences. These form part of a total of 50 being issued till 2012.
By May, all taxis, including existing ones, will need to be equipped with CCTV systems linked to TM’s control room, a two-way communication system to enable real-time communication with the operators, emergency buttons accessible to passengers and drivers in the case of emergency, intelligent taximeters and tracking devices.
By the end of next year, air-conditioning will be mandatory in all existing and new taxis.