Podgorica, (MINA) - The Police Administration has called on the Agency for the Protection of Personal Data and Free Access to Information (AZLP) to, within its legal competences, remove surveillance cameras across Montenegro that unlawfully record public areas.

The Police Administration stated that such action of AZLP would further contribute to the improvement of collective security and reminded that a criminal offense can be committed both by action and inaction, that is, by failing to perform an official action.

“We believe that it is of key importance for the public interest that the issues of personal data protection are addressed comprehensively and applied consistently and equally in all cases, rather than selectively, including those pointed out by the Police Administration in the previous period”, the press release states.

They pointed out that the Kotor Security Department had, on several occasions over the past three years, sent official letters to AZLP, pointing to a specific case of illegal video surveillance in the Kavaci settlement, which was set up by a private individual identified as T.Z.

The Police Administration said that, despite clearly documented facts and the indication of breaking the law, the AZLP responded only once, on April 17 2024, when it took the position that it was not competent to act in cases where private individuals perform video surveillance for their own needs.

According to the Police Administration, such a response came despite clear violations of the Law on the Protection of Personal Data and the fact that the Agency is obliged, under that Law, to carry out supervision.

“Therefore, we again call on the AZLP to diligently approach these cases and take measures within its jurisdiction in order to remove illegally installed video surveillance systems”, the Police Administration states in a press release.