A webcam that overlooks Red Funnel’s Southampton ferry terminal – and has caught several embarrassing incidents at the mainland terminal in recent months – has been forced offline.
Solent Ships have been running the popular live streaming camera on Youtube throughout 2021, clocking up over 23,000 subscribers. However, the camera overlooking the ferry terminal – and another camera in Southampton – were recently taken down due to privacy and security concerns.
Associated British Ports (ABP) has said that concerns over data protection and privacy have been raised, despite the cameras only looking at publicly accessible areas – somewhere where an expectation of privacy cannot reasonably be claimed. The cameras also showed only a wide-angle view, therefore making faces and number plates hard to make out.
The Youtube channel recently said that the success of the webcam broadcasts had triggered an investigation by Associated British Ports (ABP) ‘who are concerned the cameras pose a security risk at the port’. The action has been described as dishearting by Solent Ships as the intention was to promote the Port of Southampton and all connected activities.
Legal advice is being sought.
ABP has hinted that Red Funnel had complained about the camera’s presence previously…
A spokesperson from the port authority has said:
“We appreciate that being able to watch the activities at the port is an enjoyable activity for many and has brought a welcome distraction for many during these past challenging months.
Article continues below this advertisement “We are keen to find a way forward together with Solent Ships to explore how filming could be done in a way that respects the privacy of the many people who use the port.
“The concerns raised by Red Funnel Ferries last year are the ones we share today – to make sure Data Protection laws are not being breached, and that people’s privacy – from car registration numbers to cruise ship passengers, supply chain workers and our own staff – is respected.
“We very much hope to reach an agreement on how to move forward and invite Solent Ships to work with us to see how we can create a positive outcome for all.”
It was only last month that one of the cameras caught the moment a lorry destroyed the Red Funnel ticket booth…
Red funnel staff complained saying they could no longer just stand around all day and had to look busy
What about the camera at Portsmouth dockyard surely that’s more of a security risk and there are many cameras uk and worldwide that show far more detail of peoples faces, vehicles and streets than this one does.
There would be no problem if the only people DVLA gave drivers details to were the police.
ABP’s usual bullying and heavy handed approach.
Perhaps Red funnel didn’t want people to see if the ferries were working to time.
I defy anyone to be able to read a vehicles registration number from a distance of just over 255feet away let alone recognise someone’s face.
This is simply Red Funnel embarrassed that their staff’s actions and any accidents are being caught on someone else’s CCTV and not just theirs any more. Which simply means they have no control of what the public gets to view. Do you think Red Funnel would have released the footage of the lorry crashing into the ticket office if it had not been caught on a public CCTV system? Not a chance!
To be honest were the general public aware these cameras were ‘live streaming’? Is there notification employed raising awareness of these spies in the Sky? I wasn’t aware of them! Given terrorist threats etc perhaps playing it safe is not too much?!
As there are over 23,000 subscribers to one webcam alone, I’d say the answer to your initial question is a definite ‘Yes.’ But then you probably knew that already didn’t you?
And, do you honestly expect to be notified by anyone and everyone who is filming in a public place through a webcam, mobile phone or other device? Good luck with that one!
Jobdworth springs to mind…
I live in Birmingham. Spent a large part of my 65 yrs visiting family near southampton. The cameras are so nice to be able to see the lovely port and Ships of all types coming and going. To see peoples excitement on the cruise ships as they are leaving. There are people watching these cams from all over the world.
I fail to see the difference between the solent ships cams and the web cams that are erected around our towns and cities to watch our daily movements. There seems no problem with those camera operators snooping in and zooming in on you as you go about your buisness. Data projection dont apply in their case.