Cyprus’ House of Representatives has approved legislation establishing, for the first time, a legal framework governing the use of image-recording cameras in vehicles.
The amendment to the Road Safety Law was passed on Thursday with 19 votes in favour, 16 against and one abstention. The proposal was tabled by Greens MP Stavros Papadouris.
Under the new law, cameras may be installed in private, commercial and public sector vehicles, primarily to protect drivers in the event of accidents, document traffic violations or criminal acts, and assist police investigations.
The use of such devices will be strictly governed by data protection rules, in line with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, with further guidance to be issued by the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection to prevent uncontrolled recording of personal data.
Restrictions on use and publication
The law prohibits the public sharing of video that includes third parties without their consent, limiting the use of recordings mainly to accident-related cases, criminal investigations and, in some instances, fleet monitoring.
Provisions allowing audio recording were removed from the final text, along with clauses permitting unrestricted publication of material or designating a specific supervisory authority. The law will come into force three months after its publication.
Political reactions and concerns
During the plenary debate, Papadouris said the legislation addresses a regulatory gap, noting that many vehicles in Cyprus already use dashboard cameras without any legal framework. He said the aim is to allow their use under supervision so that footage can be used as evidence in relevant cases.
AKEL MPs voiced strong reservations, warning that the law could undermine privacy protections. MP Valentinos Fakontis cautioned against potential abuse and surveillance, saying the party opposed the bill to avoid creating a “Big Brother” environment.
His colleague Andreas Pasiourtides also raised concerns, pointing to stricter conditions imposed in recent legislation governing police body cameras. He questioned the consistency of allowing vehicle cameras to record public roads while private home cameras face tighter restrictions.
DISY MP Dimitris Demetriou said his party supported the bill with reservations, noting that the technology is already widely used and can help resolve liability disputes, particularly in insurance cases. He stressed that safeguards had been strengthened by removing audio recording and limiting the use of footage.
DIKO President Nikolas Papadopoulos backed the measure, describing it as a common practice across Europe that can help prevent violations and protect citizens.
Responding to criticism, Papadouris said it would be unreasonable to leave thousands of vehicles operating with cameras outside any legal framework, adding that such devices typically record limited footage that is often automatically deleted unless an incident occurs.
Pasiourtides, however, reiterated concerns that recordings may not always be time-limited, warning that continuous recording could become widespread without sufficient safeguards.
Source: CNA