Surveillance warning over speed cameras

THE introduction of traffic speed cameras could be used to create a surveillance society, the Data Protection Commissioner warned yesterday.

Commissioner Joe Meade also said he might bring a legally binding code of practice regulating the media’s publication of personal information. Launching his 2004 annual report yesterday, Mr Meade said:

* Unwanted phone and email SPAM messages accounted for a third of all complaints to his office.

* A direct marketing company 4’s a Fortune would be prosecuted next month for alleged SPAM offences.

* Communications regulator Comreg had failed to set up an agreed register letting phone customers bar calls from direct marketing firms.

* New laws allowing phone companies to retain customer communication data for three years was excessive.

Mr Meade said the Department of Transport had consulted him about using speed cameras to catch motor tax evaders.

“I have no problem with any measure that needs to be taken to detect evasion of motor tax, but speed cameras are there for catching people who are speeding. There is some concern this proposal could be the start of a surveillance society culture. I wondered if any other uses could later be made of these results, for location purposes, etc.”

He said the Government would have to introduce legislation if it wanted to use the cameras for other purposes. Mr Meade also said the media had to act responsibly when publishing personal information of people. He said Justice Minister Michael McDowell was due to publish proposals on a press council.

“If the proposals are deemed not adequate it behoves us to bring in a code of practice the media would have to adhere to,” he said. Breaches of the code could result in fines up to €100,000 or a prohibition on publishing.

The commissioner said complaints jumped by 50% from 258 in 2003 to 395 in 2004. Cases include:

* A woman who complained her husband, against whom she had a barring order, had managed to get access to her voicemail from Eircom. Eircom brought in new procedures.

* Unsolicited email from Dublin councillor John Rainey, who subsequently failed to co-operate with the commissioner’s inquiries and accused Mr Meade of “pestering” him.

* Complaints against Bank of Ireland for marketing schoolchildren as young as 12, without their parents’ consent, to open bank accounts.

Mr Meade said he had sought details on three occasions from Mr McDowell and the gardaí as to the value of holding communication data for three years rather than six months, but never received a response.