The camera of my neighbours is filming me when I walk the street. Is that allowed?
No, that is not allowed without a good reason. In principle, your neighbour is only allowed to film their own property, such as their own home and garden, fur security purposes. Filming part of the public road is not allowed, unless there is really no other way. For example, if the front door directly adjoins the road. Or because your neighbour has parked a bicycle or a motor scooter close to their home and wants to keep an eye on it. In that case, your neighbour will have to make every effort to limit the breach of other people's privacy. For example, by having the camera or video doorbell zoom in as much as possible on their own property and not filming other parts of the road. And by ‘blurring’ faces of passers-by.
Moreover, your neighbour will do well to switch a video doorbell on only when someone rings the doorbell, for example. And not to retain the images, or remove them quickly.
What you can do
Does it make you uncomfortable that your neighbours have a camera? Or do you think that the camera films more than permitted? The first step is to have a conversation with your neighbours. It may be that the camera is not switched on or that your neighbours do not film you. Maybe the problem could therefore easily be solved. You may draw the attention of your neighbours to the rules and tips on this website.
Are you unable to work it out together? Then you can engage mediation. For example, through the municipality or the community police officer. You can also request legal assistance through the Legal Aid and Advice Centre (in Dutch: Juridisch Loket).
Do you want to submit a complaint to the AP? Then bear in mind that the AP receives many complaints about the cameras of neighbours. We therefore recommend that you take action yourself first.
Take a look at all the information about camera use in and around the home. And read the story of Lilian (68), who felt inhibited in her own home because of the camera of the neighbours.
