These days, it has become increasingly easier and cheaper to purchase and install smart security systems for your home. However, the next time you’re thinking about installing smart security cameras or even a smart doorbell that might come with a camera, you might want to think twice.
This is because over in the UK, a judge has ruled that by installing these security systems in his home, Jon Woodard was found to have violated his neighbor’s privacy. According to the BBC report, this came about when Woodard invited his neighbor, Dr. Mary Fairhurst, over to his home to show off his home renovations.
As part of the renovations, Woodard installed the Ring doorbell and security camera, which Fairhurst was opposed to. A series of disputes about the camera followed, which ultimately resulted in Fairhurst moving out of her home.
Due to the fact that these devices were able to capture video and audio (disabling audio was a feature that was only introduced in 2020), and it was found that the cameras could actually capture parts of Fairhurst’s home like the garden and parking space, the judge ruled that this was a breach of the UK Data Protection Act and UK GDPR.
That being said, this doesn’t mean you can’t protect your home using these systems, but perhaps it might be a good idea to ensure that if there is any video that’s being captured, it should be that of your own property.
Filed in . Read more about Connected Objects, IoT (Internet of Things), Legal, Privacy, Security and Social Hit. Source: bbc