CCTV Snoop Internet Eyes loses high profile customer

Way back in late 2009 a number of people in the security, privacy and identity spaces picked up on a rather disturbing business proposition from startup Internet Eyes.  In essence they provide a kind of managed CCTV, allowing shop operators the ability to have their CCTV feed monitored live by “volunteers” based online who will flag suspicious behaviours.

After a number of promises to the ICO, Internet Eyes finally broke in to the market in 2010 and only a week or so back the Eastern Daily Press heralded the installation in to what were probably the highest profile client sites so far; 3 Budgens stores in Norfolk, UK.

Today the ever vigilant Big Brother Watch has reported that after receiving a number of complaints from his regular customers Budgens owner Jinx Hundal has pulled the service saying,

“The last thing I wanted to do was upset my customers. I have spoken to customers via our customer forum and there have been concerns raised, with customers saying they were uneasy about being viewed by members of the public. I made a mistake and I am genuinely sorry for that.”

As BBW point out, the negative consumer reaction is a powerful one and something few owners would wish for their businesses.  Rather obviously Internet Eyes have spent plenty of time pointing out how much industry loses out to theft as justification for their solution but nothing is said on the cost of losing those customers who just don’t want random strangers watching their every shopping move.

A small #win hopefully on the route to a much larger one.

Internet Eyes Under ICO Investigation

Well it was always going to happen but today The Register are running a story that the launch of Internet Eyes has been delayed whilst the Information Commissioner’s Office checks on the legality of the service after concerns were raised.

Assistant Information Commissioner Jonathan Bamford told The Register:   “CCTV operators should use appropriately trained staff to monitor images. If a CCTV system is established to help prevent and detect crime, it would be appropriate to disclose images to law enforcement agencies where a crime needs to be investigated.

“However, it is not appropriate to disclose images of identifiable individuals for entertainment purposes or to place them on the internet.

“If images are to be released for identification purposes, this should not generally be done by anyone other than the law enforcement agencies where necessary when investigating a crime.”

I for one am hoping that in this case the ICO really does step up and put a halt to Internet Eyes.

Internet Eyes on TV – Watch, Learn & be… Disgusted?

UPDATE: ITV have rescheduled the piece for 18th February.  Shame as I was hoping to hear what Internet Eyes had to say for themselves.

Internet Eyes the citizen snooping CCTV advocate, about whom I have posted before,  is to be  featured on ITV’s Tonight program on 11th February at 19.30 according to their facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Internet-Eyes/108455634071?ref=nf.

I’m personally still appalled at the idea of not only Joe Public having an eye into private CCTV footage for the purpose of reporting observed miscreants but also the notion of this snooping being in some way ranked into league tables of spotters with prizes/rewards on offer for reporting.