WATCHING THE WATCHERS: LEGAL REGULATION OF CCTV IN MACEDONIA

Abstract

Over the last several years there has been rapid and continuous
expansion in the collection, usage and transmission of personal data all
over the world. Government institutions, organizations and companies
have dramatically increased the volume of personal data that they
collect, process, analyze and further transmit as part of their everyday
activities. This process has inevitably jeopardized and eroded privacy.
In January 1997, the “new environment” was best described in the
famous statement of SUN Microsystems’ executive, Scott McNealy:
“You have zero privacy anyway! Get over it!”1
Having in mind the
recent developments, it seems that during the last decade this statement
had a strong visionary power. At the same time, it proved to be more
than accurate.
The revolution in personal data processing has affected many
areas of everyday life. One of the emerging issues in this global process
was the usage, development and legal regulation of closed circuit
television (CCTV). As a result of that, this paper will make an attempt to
analyze the latest trends in the CCTV expansion and its regulation on
global level and, consequently, to compare it with the Macedonian
experiences. Furthermore, the paper will analyze the current legal
regulation of CCTV in Macedonia as well as its implementation practice.
Equally, it will offer recommendations how to cope with the potential
challenges in this area in future.