European UnionDoes GDPR apply to a neighbor's CCTV camera recording my property?
Yes, GDPR applies if your neighbor's CCTV records your private property or public areas where you have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
What the Law Says
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies whenever personal data is processed — including video recordings that identify individuals. Even domestic CCTV systems fall under GDPR if they capture people outside the household.
Article 2(2)(c) GDPR explicitly excludes 'purely personal or household activity' — but the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) ruled in *Rynes* (C-212/13) that this exemption does not apply when surveillance extends beyond private property into public spaces or neighbours’ homes.
If your neighbour’s camera records your driveway, garden, or front door — areas where you have a reasonable expectation of privacy — the footage likely constitutes processing of your personal data under Article 4(1) GDPR.
The controller (your neighbour) must comply with core principles: lawfulness (Art. 6), purpose limitation (Art. 5(1)(b)), data minimisation (Art. 5(1)(c)), and transparency (Art. 12–14). They cannot rely solely on 'household exemption' to avoid accountability.
Statutory TextThis Regulation does not apply to the processing of personal data by a natural person in the course of a purely personal or household activity.
— GDPR Art. 2(2)(c)
Statutory TextThe installation of a video surveillance system… directed at a public space… falls outside the scope of purely personal or household activity.
— CJEU Case C-212/13, *Rynes*, para 29
What to Do
Politely speak to your neighbour: ask about camera direction, purpose, retention period, and whether signage is displayed (required under Art. 14 GDPR).
Request access to footage containing you using a GDPR subject access request (Art. 15); they must respond within one month.
If unresolved, file a complaint with your national Data Protection Authority (e.g., UK ICO, French CNIL, German BfDI) — no fee required.
Document evidence: take photos/videos showing camera field-of-view overlapping your property; note timestamps and dates of recording.
As a last resort, seek civil injunction or damages through national courts — many EU member states permit claims for privacy infringement under national implementation laws (e.g., Germany’s BDSG §83, France’s Loi Informatique et Libertés Art. 40).
Sources
Related Questions
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-10-11.