Being watched

That the German needs a history lesson. Anyone that lived in the former East Germany would know all about surveillance right up until the 1980s. In the West I bet they have CCTV too. I got the text below from a German security website. "Privacy protection (Datenschutz) is a constitutionally guaranteed right in Germany. So is the right to one's picture. Alas, there are plenty of exceptions. In most instances signs must be posted, clearly indicating that video surveillance is being used. Video surveillance (CCTV) in Germany may only be used openly (e.g. obvious cameras, notices at the entrance, some stores even show you what is being recorded on sales-floor monitors). Government agencies and private ententies may uses CCTV for purposes of crime prevention and solving. Hidden cameras may only be used when criminal activity 'of a serious nature' is suspected. Roaming gangs of detectives, who are in a particular store for only a few days, are known to hide miniature cameras. [Closed doors of the manager's office, particularly in food stores, should be considered a warning sign.] Secret video surveillance of staff is only permitted if the workers council (Betriebsrat) where it exists agrees beforehand and as a temporary measure. Germans are very much concerned about privacy issues, particularly smaller and medium traders do not use CCTV for fear of offending regular customers. Video recordings must be deleted immediately after their aim has been achieved (i.e. nothing untoward has been recorded, usually 24/48 hours, [BayObstLG 24.01.02, 2 StRR 8/02; in connection with § 6b (I) BDSG]. This said, it should be noted German laws regarding video surveillance are ambiguous and confusing. Even if infringements of the law are exposed, fines will be minimal. Thus anybody who wants to, will happily record and store data."