Why You Can’t Check CCTV Footage for Lost Items Anymore

Rohini Sharma, News Reporter, Class of 2020

On January 31st 2018, the Director of the Office of Student Life informed the students of the University about the institution of a new guideline regarding access to CCTV footage in cases of theft. Citing the the University’s commitment towards protecting the privacy of its students, Ms. Rashmi Singh notified, that CCTV footage will not be made available to students in case of any loss of personal property in University campus including Halls of Residence.

The only footage that will be accessible to students will be that of CCTV cameras installed outside the library in case of any loss of personal property kept in shelves there.

In a short interview with me, Ms. Singh emphasised that discourse about access to CCTV footage and privacy has persisted ever since the University was essentially a startup. She added that at the beginning of the current academic year, the concerns were sincerely accentuated to the table for discussion among the senior leadership.

The decision-making process wasn’t restricted to the senior leadership and did trickle down to involve staff members, Resident Assistants and YIF Committees. The two members from the House of Representatives involved were Edwin Joseph and ex-student government President, KC Sachin.

Student Government’s Role

KC Sachin oftentimes acted as a link between the House of Representatives and the administration because all student representatives’ schedules couldn’t be aligned simultaneously to discuss the matter at hand. The former President of the HoR told The Edict that he attended the first meeting concerning this issue around November 2017, in the wake of the Ryan International School murder case. Sachin put forth issues regarding theft against the policy in the meeting, but clarified that his personal opinion was in favour of restricting access to CCTVs. He cited privacy as his main concern, fearing the possibility of the system being hacked.

An inconclusive debate regarding the issue was held on the Student Government WhatsApp Group with members being both for and against the restrictions being introduced. Consequently, Sachin met with Ms. Singh and the decision was passed with his agreement. Other members of the HoR weren’t pleased with the decision because of insufficient deliberation and a collective vote not being taken on this issue in the House.

However, when asked about the meeting in which he assented to the decision of restricting access, KC says “Here, I would say that it was a mistake on my part and that we should have investigated the legal aspect (being presented by the Administration) further, but I took them at face value there”.

Valuable Items

Another question looms over the ‘degree of preciousness’ of the object/objects that are lost. In such situations, it becomes virtually impossible to set standards around the same and have differential attitudes and provisions over such a subjective matter.

Ms. Singh responds to this apprehension by assuring that the concerned student may reach out to any member of the administration, who would in turn help solve the issue in the best way possible without making CCTV footage accessible. Some methods of recourse might include reporting the loss at the Lost and Found Department, spreading the search for the object through word of mouth and sending out messages or emails for the same.

Ms Singh doesn’t falter to mention that “At certain exceptional occasions of loss, it is not as if we are going to be blinded by the policy in place, and by all means the intention is to help and support”.

She asserted that the decision hasn’t been instituted looking only at the sheer number of requests to view CCTV footage that reached the IT department, the administration and Ms. Singh herself. When there existed no clear policy regarding the access of this nature, the college did provide footage worth of hours.

Ms. Singh also emphasized the legal aspect of such a policy. The privacy of individuals belonging to the University was being seriously compromised under the old policy. She argues that it must be taken into consideration that misuse of the same might lead to harmful consequences for any individual- students, faculty and staff members alike.

There is also an important and rare exception that extensive discussion has allowed for, that is highlighted by Ms. Singh. She says “In the rarest of the rare situations we keep the provision of footage, if there has been a serious incident on campus and committees like CASH (Committee against Sexual Harassment) or CADI (Committee against Disciplinary Infractions) would request. The process now, is that the only space where that approval (of accessing CCTV footage) will come from, is the Vice Chancellor and the Pro Vice Chancellor.”