Personal Computer Magazine, 22 October 2014: 'Tax authorities are watching police cameras on a large scale'

“The Tax Authorities are allowed to watch almost unrestricted use of roadside cameras. These were once installed with the intention of only tracking down serious criminals, such as human traffickers, but now the cameras are also used for people who do some extra private mileage with a leased car.

These are the so-called ANPR cameras: Automatic Number Plate Recognition cams. These were initially set up by the police along the borders to scan all passing vehicles. They possibly included criminals, where the ANPR cameras could be used to catch fleeing criminals.

Covenant

However, the police have also recently signed a covenant with the tax authorities. That means the tax authorities are now allowed to look at that camera data. That data is kept for about eight weeks. Critics question whether that retention period is proportionate.

Minor infractions

The Inland Revenue now wants to use the cameras to tackle minor offences as well. Someone driving their leased car privately, for example, is now monitored by the cameras, and the cameras are used to see which cars have paid their road tax.

Critics

ANPR cameras have been a thorn in the side of privacy advocates for years. Civil rights activist Rejo Zenger has been protesting against the cameras for years and Privacy First also opposes them.

Function creep

A situation like this is what the critics call 'function creep'. This means that a tool like the cameras is used for one purpose, but is later used for completely different purposes by stretching the law."

Source: http://www.pcmweb.nl/nieuws/belastingdienst-kijkt-op-grote-schaal-mee-met-politiecameras.html, 22 October 2014.