Complaints against data protection measures on the rise - Increased number of data protection concerns reported to officers
Rising Concerns Over Video Surveillance in Private Areas in Lower Saxony
A significant surge in complaints about video surveillance in private areas has been reported by the data protection commissioners in Lower Saxony, Germany [1]. In the first half of 2025, the state data protection commissioner received around 1,690 complaints, marking a 42% increase from the previous year.
This increase is primarily attributed to the growing digitalization in business and administration, leading to an escalation in the volume of digital data and the associated risks to individuals' privacy [1]. The lack of clear and satisfactory regulations or enforcement around private video monitoring has also contributed to the problem, allowing for potential misuse or overreach.
The surge in complaints reflects broader anxieties about privacy violations in sectors such as health, real estate, and finance, where personal data digitization has intensified [1]. Notable increases in complaints have been observed from the health, social services, municipal sectors, real estate industry, credit agencies, financial sector, and address trading.
Public institutions reported 276 data breaches in the first half of 2025, a decrease from the 355 reported in 2024. Similarly, non-public institutions reported 507 data breaches in the first half of 2025, a decrease from the 421 reported in the previous year.
Addressing the Privacy Concerns
To address these privacy concerns, several potential solutions have been proposed. These include enhancing data protection laws and regulatory frameworks specific to private video surveillance, strengthening public awareness campaigns, improving enforcement mechanisms, deploying privacy-respecting technologies, and encouraging transparency by requiring owners of private video surveillance systems to clearly notify or obtain consent from those potentially recorded [1].
In conclusion, the rise in complaints in Lower Saxony is fundamentally tied to increased digital data collection through private video surveillance without sufficient legal clarity or enforcement, raising privacy concerns among the public [1]. Effective solutions involve legal reform, enhanced enforcement, technology safeguards, and citizen education to better protect personal privacy while managing surveillance needs.
[1] Source: State Data Protection Commissioner in Lower Saxony, Germany.
- The escalating concerns over privacy in Lower Saxony, particularly in sectors like health, real estate, finance, and business, are largely driven by the proliferation of private video surveillance, which is a part of the broader digitalization trend.
- To combat these growing privacy concerns, it's essential to focus on strengthening legal frameworks surrounding private video surveillance, promoting transparency through public notification or consent, bolstering enforcement mechanisms, and deploying technology that respects privacy.
