Severe penalties await those violating rules on vehicle camera usage

Official warnings against the arbitrary use of surveillance cameras in vehicles

In a move aimed at protecting citizens’ privacy, the National Commission for the Control of the Protection of Personal Data (CNDP) has issued stern warnings regarding the phenomenon of installing surveillance cameras inside and outside vehicles. The authority emphasized that this action is not an absolute freedom, but is strictly subject to the provisions of Law No. 09.08.

Principle of necessity and proportionality: A red line in data protection

The Commission stressed that the desire to protect vehicles or personal property does not in any way justify subjecting passengers or road users to constant and continuous monitoring. It explained that recording must respect the “principle of necessity and proportionality,” as the privacy of individuals cannot be sacrificed for purely material protection without clear legal controls.

Heavy penalties including imprisonment

The Commission highlighted that the legal consequences of filming people without their knowledge, keeping images without justification, or transferring them to unauthorized parties can be severe. The penalties are as follows:

• Financial fines: Ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 dirhams in case of failure to declare to the Commission or lack of prior authorization.
• Imprisonment and doubled fines: In cases of illicit data collection, use for unspecified purposes, or prolonged storage, the penalty can reach one year in prison and a 200,000 dirham fine.
• Abusive use: In the event that images are made available to unauthorized persons, the penalty may be increased to one year in prison and 300,000 dirhams.

Special status for rental cars and app-based transport

Regarding car rental companies, the Commission confirmed that protecting the vehicle is a legitimate interest, but it does not give company owners the absolute right to monitor passengers and track their movements. As for unlicensed app-based transport vehicles, the Commission has blocked any attempt to legitimize the monitoring of passengers, asserting that it is impossible to authorize the collection of passenger data for an activity that is not legally regulated in the first place.

It is worth noting that the National Commission is preparing to issue a new deliberation that will clarify the rules and define, in a precise and detailed manner, the technical and legal guidelines for the use of surveillance cameras in vehicles and in various public and private spaces in Morocco.