Nivian launches a complete range of fake surveillance cameras for the home to deter intruders. Regardless of whether they are fake cameras or not, the goal is to make it impossible to differentiate it from a real camera. We briefly tell you about the possibility of putting fake security cameras and their legality.
1.What is a fake surveillance camera?
A fake security camera is one that does not generate images, nor, by extension, recordings, therefore, it is an imitation of those that do work.
↪ The main goal of a fake surveillance camera is to deter people or thieves by making them believe there is an active and connected security device. In this way, criminals are scared away and a false sense of threat is created.
2. How does a fake surveillance camera work?
Fake security cameras at first glance are identical to real ones, except that they are not connected to any recording system, without the need for wiring.
⏺ Typically, fake surveillance cameras is placed anywhere in a visible space, making believe that it is a real one. The objective of these is to show that they are there but not too much so as not to raise suspicions.
🔹 Top Features of Fake Security Cameras
The fake security cameras they are characterized by imitating other operational cameras and therefore seek to achieve the appearance of real models in the professional surveillance sector.
▶ These are the main features of fake security cameras:
☑ Materials: Normally, professional cameras are usually made of aluminum alloy (metal) or plastic. It is common for fake cameras to be made with plastic housings to offer a reduced price and be more accessible. It is desirable that the quality of the plastic material is similar to that of professional plastic cameras. The models that can be found in the catalog of Nivian meet this premise.
☑ Fake lenses: They use plastic lenses or imitations that denote from the first moment the nature of the camera.
☑ Wired and wireless: In the past, it was thought that, by not having wiring, it was easy to detect if it was an imitation device, but today, with the increasing proliferation of wireless cameras (see WiFi), it is no longer so easy to differentiate a false camera due to the presence or absence of wiring. On the other hand, many professional models hide their wiring inside their support, so it is not easy to differentiate this aspect either.
3. Advantages of fake surveillance cameras
If you finally decide to install a false surveillance camera system in your home, these would be the advantages:
☑ Price. These types of cameras are usually much cheaper than other similar ones that do allow recording.
☑ Easy to install. By not having more complex wiring and installation systems, it is an easy camera to install from the first moment, regardless of the chosen place, whether it is a wall or a piece of furniture in the house.
☑ Deterrent effect. As controversial as it is decisive, the ability of the fake security camera to make the thief or other people believe of its effects is a dissuasive measure that can help to ward off theft attempts. Or incite them.
4. Is it possible to put fake surveillance cameras?
The fake security cameras they are cameras installed to deter any attempted theft without actually being put into operation.
➡ First of all, you have to keep in mind that fake cameras are not really regulated, so you have to resort to analyzing other regulations that may be applicable.
🔹 At the European level, we find the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on GDPR, which stands for General Data Protection Regulation. This European standard has a "companion" that is applied at the national level and that adapts the content of the European RGPD. We are talking about the LOPDGDD, which means Organic Law on Data Protection and Guarantee of Digital Rights. Both regulations speak of the responsibility, proportionality and limitation of the elements with the capacity to record video and/or audio, such as video surveillance cameras or as they are known in the sector, CCTV (closed circuit television).
🔹 To address this issue, a real "non-operational" surveillance camera must be differentiated from a fake camera, since the latter is the only one capable of proving that it is not recording. In this way, in the event of any litigation, a false camera can be the best asset for the presumption of innocence when it is necessary to prove that the cameras placed are recording, since a false camera lacks the electronics capable of it. This has been demonstrated by different sentences in which the file has been archived without penalizing the accused (see the File No.: E/00888/2010)
🔺 It is necessary to point out that there is a precedent of a judgment initially dismissed, but later elevated to the Supreme Court, in which a fake camera was clearly simulating that it was monitoring a neighbor's private environment and the lawsuit was accepted. In this case, it was argued that the interference of the camera in private life restricted the freedom of personal and family life, according to the Law on the Right to Privacy.
🔷 In short, according to the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD), false surveillance cameras do not imply a crime for the privacy of people, however it is necessary to take into account the following recommendations:
☑ Avoid pointing clearly at an outdoor public area, avoiding pretending that this area is being recorded, since the Data Protection Law prohibits recording public roads and could lead to confusion with law enforcement officials.
☑ Avoid putting a fake camera that apparently spies on a neighbor, even if the camera is on our property
☑ Avoid putting a false camera that apparently is recording the landing or corridor of the building (even with the camera placed inside our house) understanding that the transit area is a common area.
☑ Regarding the matter of its installation in community areas, if it is carried out by the community itself, there are exceptions. In this case, it is best to turn to the property administrator who manages the community to correctly plan the installation of false cameras or the real video surveillance system itself. For information purposes, it is advisable to know that this type of action can be approved with a qualified majority, in which it is only necessary that the installation be approved with the approval of 3/5 of the members of the community.
↪ Generally speaking, the use of these fake surveillance cameras would be legal as long as they show no signs of their functionality and we take appropriate precautions.
