Poland's UODO fines homeowner for illegal private surveillance

The President of the Personal Data Protection Office (UODO) has imposed a fine of 26,711 PLN on a property owner for illegal private surveillance. The individual had installed over a dozen cameras that recorded both video and audio 24 hours a day. The monitoring system exceeded the boundaries of the private property, capturing images and sounds from public roads and neighboring estates, including one camera reportedly directed at a neighbor's bathroom window.

The fine was not issued solely for the installation of the cameras, but primarily because the owner failed to comply with a previous order from UODO to restrict the monitoring to his own property. The owner reportedly failed to respond to official correspondence regarding the matter. UODO noted that while homeowners have the right to protect their property, they do not have the legal basis to constantly process the personal data of neighbors or passersby, nor are private citizens authorized to perform public order duties typically reserved for state authorities.