Body-Cams have become an important tool for promoting transparency and de-escalation in the deployment of security forces. A key technology integrated into these devices is pre-recording. This feature allows the camera to continuously record the last few seconds or minutes, even if the record button has not yet been pressed. This can be crucial for documenting important events before the camera is activated. ## What is pre-recording? Pre-recording is a feature in body-cams where the camera continuously stores a certain amount of time before the actual recording. This period can usually be between 15 seconds and 2 minutes, depending on the model and settings of the camera. When the recording function is activated manually, the previously recorded seconds are also saved. Otherwise, they are automatically deleted. This technology ensures that the context prior to an incident is also recorded, which can be of great importance for reconstructing events and for evidentiary purposes.
Police laws and regulations In the respective federal states, there are specific regulations governing the use of body-cams by the police. These police laws cover various aspects, including the use of the pre-recording function. In Germany, for example, the respective state police force has its own regulations for the use of body-cams, which are, however, generally restricted by data protection law and the right to informational self-determination. It is important that police officers act transparently and proportionately, which means that they must inform the public about the use of cameras and ensure that the recordings are stored securely and used only for legitimate purposes.
Application in the private sector Body-Cams with pre-recording functions are also increasingly being used in the private sector, particularly in security services, logistics and retail. Companies use this technology to ensure the safety of their employees, prevent theft and document incidents. Similar data protection regulations apply here as in the public sector, particularly with regard to informing the persons concerned and storing the data securely. The use of body-cams by private companies must be assessed in terms of data protection law in accordance with Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR.
Companies must ensure that the use of body-cams is transparent and in accordance with applicable data protection laws. This often means that information about the recording is provided and that clear guidelines are in place on how the recordings are used and stored. In some cases, it is necessary to obtain the consent of employees or customers, especially in situations where privacy could be compromised. Any questions? Get a free consultation