MAINZ, Germany — In-car cameras, or dashcams, have provided many viral YouTube hits in recent years – recording serendipitous footage of everything from meteors to crashes and lucky escapes. But motorists using them in the German state of Bavaria could face a fine of up to $375,000 after officials announced Monday that they consider the sharing or publication of dashcam footage to be a violation of the privacy of other road users.
“They don’t know that they’re recorded and have no way to object,” Peter Meier, a Bavarian state privacy official, told NBC News. He said the ban would also include videos recorded with helmet cams by cyclists and motorcycle riders. “The ban is always applicable if other persons can be identified and the recordings are shared with others.” The largest fines will be dished out to people who upload dashcam videos online or pass it to police or insurance companies. Videos recorded for personal use are still allowed.
Wolfgang Kumm / DPA via AP file