[UPDATE] Will Vumacam infringe on residents’ privacy?
Natacha from Vumacam answered a few questions about the new cameras and the possibility of the infringement of privacy.
With Vumacam poles going up all over town, the News thought it best to answer some questions to clear things up.
Firstly, what makes Vumacam different from normal CCTV footage?
Natacha Cunningham, from Vumacam’s marketing and communications department, explained that the difference lies in the fibre and the vast, interconnected network.
Read the initial article here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/krugersdorp-news/386609/a-city-watch-solution-to-help-curb-crime/
But with these poles being placed all over town, one would think that the service could be an invasion of privacy. What if there is one in front of your house? Will they be able to film inside your yard and your house?
“No cameras have views into anyone’s personal property,” said Natacha.
She explained that all the cameras are positioned to view public spaces.
“Residents providing power, most often the closest property to the cameras, are given static views of the cameras to sign off to confirm that their right to privacy is not being infringed,” she explained.
Vumacams are powered by electricity and Natacha explained that they are working on testing various sustainable options, like solar power.
“Vumacam applied to City Power for power connections, however the policies and procedures concerning this do take a long time, and there is no guarantee that we will be able to obtain power from the grid directly.”
As a result, Vumacam has worked with its legal team to draw up an agreement for willing residents to become power suppliers. After figuring out how much electricity one Vumacam pole would use and adding a bit extra to cover potential Eskom price increases, Vumacam will make an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to the consenting residents. The EFT will cover the expected usage up front for the entire year, and every year after that.
“This is a voluntary process. It’s entirely up to the residents to decide whether or not they would like to aid in powering up a Vumacam pole.”
Residents are allowed to decline the offer and if no residents agree, a temporary solar solution can be installed.
“We are confident that the cameras will provide an additional security layer in the fight against crime,” Natacha said.
