Why do people get offended by my camera?

[NewDaye]

I live in an “upscale” apartment building and have 2 direct neighbours who I share a hallway with. The entire building only has a handful of apartments, but there’s been issues with airbnbs, antisocial behaviour, external entrances being left open. This led to me getting a doorbell camera for my front door inside the apartment building.

My direct neighbours don’t care, and the building developers are aware & don’t have an issue.

However my camera often collects footage of random people (mainly women) coming into the hallway then filming my doorbell camera on their phones, staring scowling and gesturing at the camera, rolling their eyes, giving dirty looks, then leaving. On one occasion I had a woman banging on my door over it! I don’t recognise any of these people as residents so just wonder why they are so put out by my camera, especially as they seemingly have no business there anyway. It’s not even like they interact with my neighbours.

I think the scenario sounds unlikely. That scores of random people are walking into a private building, gurning at a camera and leaving. That it's a local tourist attraction.

It's more likely that these are visitors to the building who don't like being filmed.

How much privacy would you expect to be given in a communal hallway?

It could mean that the woman is up to no good and has something to hide. After all, an innocent person would have nothing to hide.

I also have a doorbell camera on my front door and never get this type of nonsense.

If some brain cell kicks off about it or has a go at you tell them its there for the security of your home and tell them to back off. If they continue to be obstinate, threaten them with the police for anti social beaviour.

It could mean that the woman is up to no good and has something to hide. After all, an innocent person would have nothing to hide.

No. A small list:

Scratching, readjusting a bra strap, fishing my knickers out of my crack, blowing my nose, there are a million things I don't want a random stranger to have footage of, especially now people like to post 'funny' things on the internet. None of which is 'up to no good'.

I'd prefer not to be filmed going in and out of my own door tbh.

You feel in some way offended or put out that one person banged on your door about it, but you can't see why others are offended and put out that you're recording them? Your actions are more disturbing and intrusive than that lady's response. People don't enjoy the panopticon.

The people opposite them haven’t got a problem with it

I am with the poster that thinks this is a strange scenario. Doorbell cameras are pretty small and discreet. But random people visiting the building are noticing it and going nuts? Gurning and gesturing at the camera? Really?

I wouldn't mind someone having a doorbell camera focussing on their own front door. I wouldn't be happy if I lived in a building where someone was filming and reviewing the footage of me movements of me and my visitors.

I am also not sure a building with airbnbs, antisocial behaviour, unsecured entrances and, frankly, nutty people going in and out could be described as 'upscale'. Where's the management company in this? You should be talking to them and sharing your footage, OP.

That's irrelevant.

It's relevant because they are the only ones likely to be filmed going in and out of their door

ico.org.uk/for-the-public/home-cctv-systems/

This is a randomer who has decided to not just film but sit down and watch back every Tom, dick and Harry that walks past her door. Cctv won't be watched back by Jane while she is noshing her doritos being a nosy mare, Cctv wont be watched back at all unless there is a reason. This to me is completely different than being on Cctv on the street or a shop where unless you do something wrong/something happens the footage is never watched back. Jane is actively choosing to spend her time watching back videos of people going about their business, it's weird and invasive.

I have this issue with the local ASBO kids

They walk up the road, filmed by the CCTV on the housing opposite to the shop which has CCTV, and then go on the bus with CCTV
But my small camera in the window is the target
If they weren't acting like dicks I would need the bloody camera to start with!

It's not.

Of course it’s relevant they are the only ones going to be stood there with the camera filming, everyone else should be just walking by going about their day

Nope. Let's move on now.

I don't understand the point of them filming a ring doorbell. What are they going to use the film for?