Car-flipping video under investigation by authorities

The Data Protection Authority of Iceland has started a formal inquiry into the publication of the footage from the security cameras from the Höfðatorg car park. The inquiry seeks to determine why anyone was in possession of a 3-year old footage from a security camera, as well as to inquire why the footage had not been deleted after police had been involved in the matter.

When we reached out to Alma Tryggvadóttir, a lawyer working for the Data Protection Authority, she pointed out that they started the investigation of their own initiative.

The video was a smash hit online last week. The video was later removed, but by that time it had received 455 thousand hits. The video can still be found online, even as a GIF-image.

The Data Protection Authority's inquiry points out that footage from security cameras may not be published without the consent of those that appear in the footage. Exceptions apply if the footage shows an accident or a crime being committed. The inquiry also states that it is only permissible to hand over a copy of the footage to the police, but all other copies must be destroyed.

In addition, the inquiry also states:

"It is illegal to store information in regards to electronic surveillance for longer than 90 days unless exempt from law. The stated legal exceptions do not justify the extended storage time in this particular case.

The Data Protection Authority has also requested a copy of the Höfðatorg building's regulations in regards to electronic surveillance. If such regulations do not exist, a further request has been made for a copy of whatever instructional or educational material has been provided to the security forces of Höfðatorg.

These requests are to be answered by November 5th.

Alma Tryggvadóttir points out that the Data Protection Authority published an article on their website earlier this year which pointed out that it is illegal to show footage from security cameras publicly. The Data Protection Authority's website states: "The Data Protection Authority emphasises that in accordance with the law, no one except the police should be in possession of footage from security cameras that show alleged crimes being committed, and that it is up to the police to determine whether there is cause to publish the footage in order to help its investigation."