Data protection commissioner opposes school CCTV pilot

In a statement, Irene Loizidou Nikolaidou, the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection, declared that the potential implementation of Closed Circuit Video Surveillance (CCTV) in school units, even as a pilot, violates the principle of legality within the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) framework.

Addressing recent media reports on a pilot operation of CCTV in three Limassol schools, Ms. Nikolaidou emphasized that the Data Protection Impact Assessment submitted by the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth is still under prior consultation with her office. No positive opinion has been issued by her office for this purpose as of now.

Crucial matters, such as the controller's status and access to image data, remain unclear and require resolution by the relevant Ministry.

Therefore, Ms. Nikolaidou concludes that until these issues are clarified, the potential operation of CCTV, even on a pilot basis, is deemed inappropriate and not in accordance with the principle of legality under the GDPR.