Security and privacy protection aspects of CCTV systems:

September 28th, 2019

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is a TV system in which signals are not publicly distributed, but are monitored, primarily for surveillance and security purposes. CCTV systems rely on strategic placement of cameras and observation of the camera’s input on monitors. As the cameras communicate with monitors and/or video recorders across private coaxial cable runs, or wireless communication links, they gain the designation “closed-circuit” to indicate that access to their content is limited to only those with authorization to see it.

The effectiveness of video surveillance technology is continuously improving, and it has already established itself as a vital security tool for the police, private companies and many public sector organisations.. An effective CCTV system contributes to the detection and prevention of crime, as well as protecting towns, cities and transport networks from the threat of terrorism.

Advances in CCTV technologies are especially from analog CCTV cameras to internet protocol (IP) ones which certainly improves the safety and security that CCTV systems provide, but also increases information security and privacy concerns. Having in mind that the new EU privacy protection regulation, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), will be applied from 25th May 2018, information security and privacy protection concerns of CCTV systems are being recognized.

Applications of CCTV systems for security:

There are three primary ways to use CCTV systems:

  • As  a deterrent;
  • For forensic purposes; and
  • As an interactive device.

Originally, CCTV surveillance systems were simply a deterrent. The notion that “Big Brother” was watching was often enough to keep people from misbehaving.

On the other hand, as recording and storing technologies and software, such as video analytics, have become more efficient, CCTV systems have evolved into a forensic surveillance tool, enabling the collection of evidence after an event has taken place.

Finally, as CCTV surveillance systems become more easily integrated with monitoring devices, alarm systems and access control devices, a third use of CCTV is related to help security personnel to identify and interrupt security breaches as they’re occurring, or even before they take place.

CCTV systems are commonly used for a variety of purposes:

  • Maintaining perimeter security in medium- to highly-secure areas and installations;
  • Observing the behavior of incarcerated inmates and potentially dangerous patients in medical facilities;
  • Traffic monitoring;
  • Overseeing locations that would be hazardous to humans, for example, highly radioactive or toxic industrial environments;
  • Building and grounds security;
  • Obtaining a visual record of activities in situations where it is necessary to maintain proper security or access controls, for example, in a diamond cutting or sorting operation, banks, casinos, or airports;
  • Home security;
  • Public transportation;
  • Crime prevention;
  • Business surveillance;
  • School protection;
  • Body worn;
  • Sporting events;
  • Monitor employees; 
  • CCTV for Open Data purposes.

We should have surveillance cameras in public places because they ensure public safety. Rarely will anyone attempt to harm anyone else when they know their actions are being recorded on camera. Cameras keep the public and their personal property safe.

The police can identify criminals through recordings on camera. Through surveillance cameras, the police can both prevent crimes from happening and can quickly solve criminal cases with material evidence.

Surveillance cameras protect against property theft and vandalism. It is very difficult for criminals to get away with stealing if there are cameras in operation. Therefore, the thief will often get caught. Surveillance cameras will catch the thief before, or during, the process of committing the crime.

Cameras, through video analytics, now have a zoom feature, allowing the camera to reveal someone’s identity, which can be beneficial to crime prevention when used in the correct way. As a result, the criminal can be apprehended quickly. For instance, in abduction cases a video would be a great way of tracking down a person quickly, and may even prevent a death.

In industrial plants, CCTV equipment may be used to observe parts of the process from a central control room, for example when the environment is not suitable for humans. CCTV systems may operate continuously, or only as required to monitor a particular event. A more advanced form of CCTV utilises digital video recorders (DVRs), providing recordings for many years potentially, with a variety of quality and performance options and extra features, such as motion detection and email alerts. More recently, decentralized IP cameras, some equipped with megapixel sensors, support recording directly to network-attached storage devices, or internal flash for stand-alone operation.

Advances in CCTV Technologies:

CCTV surveillance systems have made tremendous technological progress in the last decade, not only in individual capabilities, but also in the ability to interact with other security technology.

The following advances are:

  • Video content analysis (VCA)
  • High definition (HD) CCTV;
  • Sophisticated motion detection algorithms;
  • Wide dynamic range;
  • Internet of Things (IoT);
  • Cloud technology;
  • Big Data;
  • Video management systems (VMS); and
  • Wireless technology.
  • Video content analysis
  • A key area where CCTV is rapidly developing is that of VCA. This impressive technology is already contributing to the security of a range of high-level facilities, such as city centers, transport facilities, and utilities. The costs of the technology are falling and the capability increasing to the extent that it is becoming a cost effective option for commercial premises.

VCA:

VCA is the automatic analysis of CCTV images in camera or centrally, utilizing advanced algorithms to create useful information about the content. Generally, these systems need a static background and, consequently, tend to operate with fixed cameras or pan, tilt, zoom (PTZ) cameras at set positions, as they are looking to identify changes or movement at a particular scene. The scope of VCA is considerable and can be used in the detection of intruders, abandoned packages, wrongly parked vehicles or as a means of counting people.

One particular area that VCA can be especially effective is around the perimeter of a site. Securing a perimeter can be seen as one of the most crucial steps in any security plan. An early detection of a threat also means that there is more time and space available to formulate the necessary response, potentially preventing an intrusion all together.

One of the solutions is to hold CCTV information securely in the Cloud, with access limited to authorised personnel. There is no longer a physical DVR; data is sent directly and securely from the cameras to the Cloud. Such systems can not only provide an overview of all visual data collected by the CCTV cameras connected to it, but also complete control over access to that data, which is encrypted from end-to-end and can be viewed using a standard computer, tablet or smartphone, via secure browser technology. They can also only record CCTV data when needed and can automatically delete it when it is no longer required.