CCTV Camera Regulations Between Neighbors: Your Complete Guide to Security Without Privacy Violation in Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Security Cameras... Balancing Safety Needs with Neighbor Rights

In an era of rising crime rates and evolving theft methods, security cameras have become a security necessity rather than a luxury. However, with the proliferation of this technology in residential neighborhoods, a new issue has emerged: where do my security boundaries end and my neighbor's privacy begin? This question has often transformed into legal disputes and conflicts between neighbors, some even reaching the courts.

In this comprehensive guide, we review Saudi Arabia's security camera surveillance system designed to address these issues. We clarify what is permitted and prohibited, the deterrent penalties for violators, and how you can protect your home without falling under legal liability.

Part One: The Security Camera Surveillance System

System Issuance and Objectives

The Security Camera Surveillance System was issued by royal decree on 7 Rabi' al-Awwal 1444 AH corresponding to October 3, 2022. Consisting of 18 articles, it regulates security camera use in the Kingdom. This system aims to end personal interpretations and recurring disputes between neighbors, intelligently balancing two fundamental rights: the right to security and protection on one hand, and the right to privacy on the other.

The system aims to regulate the installation and use of surveillance cameras in public and private places, protect individual privacy, ensure legal use of recordings, and prevent spying and violation of citizens' and residents' private lives.

Scope of Application

The system applies to wide categories including: government ministries and agencies, commercial establishments and shopping centers, residential buildings and complexes, health and educational facilities, hotels and tourist accommodation, mosques, and other public and private facilities. However, what concerns us in this guide is the system's application to homes and relationships between neighbors.

Part Two: Permitted and Prohibited Home Camera Installation

What is Permitted?

Every citizen and resident has the right to protect their home by installing surveillance cameras, but within specific controls. What is permitted includes: installing cameras on your fence to monitor your property boundaries, directing cameras toward the public street facing your home, monitoring your home entrance and garage door, filming your private garden and inner courtyard, and installing internal cameras in your home without restrictions as long as their view doesn't extend beyond your property boundaries.

Red Lines: What is Prohibited?

The system strictly prohibits several practices considered privacy violations: directing cameras to reveal inside the neighbor's courtyard or private garden, directly filming the neighbor's home entrance, directing cameras toward neighbors' windows overlooking private rooms like bedrooms and bathrooms, installing hidden cameras or ones concealed among tree branches or in non-visible places, and raising cameras to heights exceeding 2.5 meters where they reveal what's behind neighbors' fences.

Visibility and Warning Requirements

One of the system's most important controls is that cameras must be visible and clear to see, not hidden. Warning signs must also be placed indicating the presence of surveillance cameras. This requirement aims to differentiate between legitimate security monitoring and prohibited spying. A hidden camera is considered evidence of bad intent, even if directed toward the owner's property.

Part Three: Ministry of Interior Technical Specifications

Minimum Specifications

The Ministry of Interior mandated specific technical specifications for surveillance cameras including: high image resolution enabling facial and identity recognition, night vision capability ensuring 24-hour monitoring effectiveness, sufficient storage capacity for retaining recordings, and technical quality conforming to Ministry-approved standards.

Audio Recording Prohibition

One of the most important technical controls is prohibiting cameras that record audio in public places except with very special permits. This prohibition aims to prevent eavesdropping on conversations, which is considered a separate cybercrime under the Anti-Cybercrime Law. Therefore, if your cameras contain a microphone, ensure you disable the audio recording feature if they're directed toward the street or common areas.

Appropriate Height

The camera installation height must not exceed 2.5 meters, approximately equivalent to the first floor. This requirement ensures the camera is directed downward to cover property boundaries only, without its view extending to reveal what's behind neighbors' fences. The higher the camera, the greater the likelihood of violating others' privacy.

Part Four: Deterrent Penalties

Camera System Fines

Violations of the camera surveillance system are not minor, with graduated penalties according to violation type: SAR 500 fine for each camera or device not conforming to required technical specifications, SAR 1,000 fine for each camera not installed according to location and controls specified in the requirements document, SAR 2,000 fine for failing to place clear warning signs, SAR 5,000 fine for failing to retain recordings for the specified period or modifying them, SAR 10,000 fine for installing cameras in prohibited places like hotel rooms or bathrooms, and SAR 20,000 fine for transferring or publishing camera recordings in violation of the system.

Penalty for Publishing Recordings on Social Media

This point is critically important and many overlook it. Publishing camera surveillance recordings, whether footage of neighbors, passersby, or any other persons, on social media exposes the publisher to a SAR 20,000 fine under the camera surveillance system. But more seriously, this act is also criminalized under the Anti-Cybercrime Law as defamation and violation of private life.

Anti-Cybercrime Law Penalties

According to Article 3 of the Anti-Cybercrime Law issued in 2007, anyone who violates private life through misuse of camera-equipped mobile phones or similar devices, or defames others and causes them harm through information technology means, is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, or a fine not exceeding SAR 500,000, or both penalties. The penalty may be intensified if the crime is accompanied by extortion or threats.

Part Five: How to Respond if Your Neighbor Violates Your Privacy

Amicable Solution First

Before resorting to the law, it's always advisable to attempt an amicable solution with your neighbor. Your neighbor may not realize their cameras are violating your privacy, or they may be willing to change their position or direction. Speak with them calmly, explain your concerns, and suggest practical solutions such as: changing the camera angle, lowering its height, installing a lens shield to limit the field of view, or redirecting it away from your home.

Documentation

If dialogue fails, document the violation: take clear photos of the offending camera showing its location and direction, record video demonstrating how the camera reveals your privacy, keep any messages or conversations with the neighbor about the matter, and enlist witnesses from neighbors if possible.

Filing a Report

If the neighbor continues violating your privacy, you can file an official report: go to the nearest police station and submit a report with documented evidence, or use the Kulluna Amn app to report electronically, or contact the Human Rights Commission if the violation is serious. The competent authorities will investigate and take necessary action, which may include ordering the neighbor to remove or relocate the camera and fining them.

Alternative Solutions

While awaiting legal resolution of the dispute, you can take some preventive measures: plant tall trees or climbing plants to block the camera's view, install awnings or pergolas over the courtyard, raise the fence height if legally permissible, or install external curtains on exposed windows.

Part Six: Tips for Legal Camera Installation

Before Installation

If you're planning to install surveillance cameras in your home, follow these tips to avoid problems: inform your neighbors in advance of your intention to install cameras, explain that the goal is shared neighborhood security, listen to their concerns and suggestions, and engage an approved installation company that understands legal controls.

During Installation

Observe the following controls: camera height not exceeding 2.5 meters, lens directed downward toward your property boundaries, camera visible not hidden, clear warning sign present, and audio recording feature disabled for external cameras.

After Installation

Adhere to safe practices: don't share camera recordings on social media, retain recordings for the legally specified period then delete them, don't modify recordings especially if there's a report or investigation, and hand over recordings to security authorities when requested.

Part Seven: Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to install cameras in my home?

No, private homes are exempt from the licensing requirement, unlike companies and commercial establishments. However, this doesn't mean you're exempt from complying with controls and specifications.

Can my neighbor object to my cameras?

Yes, if your cameras actually violate their privacy. But if they're directed only toward your property and the public street, they have no right to object.

What if my camera captures a crime on the street?

Hand over the recording to security authorities immediately. Don't publish it on social media even if it documents a crime, because publishing itself may expose you to liability.

Are smart doorbells covered by the system?

Yes, any device that captures images or video is subject to the same controls. Ensure your smart doorbell is directed only toward your entrance and not toward the opposite neighbor's home.

Conclusion

Surveillance cameras are a legitimate right to protect your property, but it's a right limited by respect for others' privacy. The Saudi system has established a clear framework enabling you to secure your home without violating your neighbors' rights. The key is: visible cameras, directed downward, at appropriate height, with warning signs, and without publishing recordings.

Remember that the neighbor comes before the home, and true security begins with a healthy relationship with your neighbors. Prior dialogue with them before installing cameras saves you many problems and transforms your cameras from a source of conflict into a shared security factor for the entire neighborhood.