Under the GDPR, using CCTV on business premises involves the processing of personal data, which requires compliance with the data protection principles and obligations. However, notifying the appropriate data protection authority (DPA) is not one of the steps that a company should take before using CCTV, unless the DPA has specifically requested it or the CCTV involves high-risk processing that requires prior consultation. The other steps are necessary to ensure GDPR compliance, as explained below:

Performing a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) is a mandatory requirement for any type of processing that is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals, such as large-scale or systematic monitoring of public areas. A DPIA is a process that helps identify and mitigate the potential privacy risks of using CCTV, and document the measures taken to address them. A DPIA should include a description of the processing, its purpose and necessity, its risks and benefits, the safeguards and security measures, and the consultation with stakeholders. A DPIA should be carried out before the CCTV system is installed or upgraded, and reviewed regularly or whenever there is a significant change in the processing.

Creating an information retention policy for those who operate the system is a good practice to ensure that the personal data collected by CCTV is not kept longer than necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, and that it is securely deleted or anonymised when no longer needed. The retention period should be determined by the specific purpose and context of using CCTV, and take into account any legal or contractual obligations, as well as the expectations and rights of the data subjects. The retention policy should also specify who is responsible for managing and deleting the CCTV footage, and how the deletion process is verified and documented.

Ensuring that safeguards are in place to prevent unauthorized access to the footage is an essential requirement to comply with the GDPR principle of integrity and confidentiality, which states that personal data must be processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of the data, including protection against unauthorized or unlawful processing and accidental loss, destruction or damage. The safeguards may include technical and organisational measures, such as encryption, access control, logging, audit, training, policies and procedures, that aim to protect the CCTV footage from unauthorized or unlawful access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction, both during transmission and storage. References: GDPR Article 35, GDPR Article 36, GDPR Article 5, CCTV and video surveillance | ICO, 5 Step Guide to Check if Your CCTV is GDPR Compliant