Scandalous: Lake Balaton accommodation provider takes intimate videos of guests

An accommodation provider at Lake Balaton took intimate videos of their guests. The person was recently heavily fined for this breach of rights.

Breach of rights

The incident was reported by likebalaton.hu. The Balaton accommodation provider operated two separate camera systems at the site. The first camera system consisted of fixed analogue cameras, which only transmitted live images. The second consisted of IP cameras, which recorded both images and sound.

The analogue cameras covered the car park and the lane from the gate to the entrance of the hotel. Meanwhile, the IP cameras covered the reception, the canteen, the inner courtyard and the jacuzzi on the terrace of the building. The camera monitoring the hot tub was set up in such a way that it could also be used to monitor people on the adjacent property.

The operator cited the protection of persons and property when proceedings were brought against them.

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One camera system was lawful, the other was not

The National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (NAIH) found that the data processing through the analogue camera system was lawful. This is because the cameras only covered parts of the property where guests pass through and where they are actually suitable for asset protection purposes.

On the other hand, the accommodation provider committed a serious infringement by operating the other camera system, Index writes.

The NAIH found that voice recording via a camera system consisting of IP cameras was illegal. As they wrote, voice recording is not a common practice in the case of CCTV surveillance of property. So, the subjects could not have expected that the cameras would record their voice and conversations in addition to their images.

The CCTV footage available to them also showed that the people concerned were not aware that they were being monitored by a camera while using the hot tub and that we were being filmed in an intimate situation.

Bans and a fine

In addition to the above, the Authority found that the data controller did not provide transparent and easily accessible information to data subjects about the data processing carried out through the camera system, and the information provided was incorrect and misleading.

Based on this, they ordered the dismantling of the cameras in the dining room, the inner courtyard and the jacuzzi, banned the person from further infringements and ordered them to pay a data protection fine of HUF 3 million (EUR 7970), likebalaton.hu reports.

Featured image: illustration

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