h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Does anyone have experience of doorbell cameras?

My neighbours recently got one. I set it off whenever I go past, as we share a driveway and the range of the camera covers my part of the path as well as theirs.

I guess if they get annoyed by me setting it off loads of times in quick succession they might be able to change the settings or something, but if they're not annoyed by all the notifications they'll just be seeing me going past every day, which is potentially a bit creepy.

Is there any particular etiquette for these things?

I think they count as CCTV

"But what if your system captures images of people outside the boundary of your private domestic property – for example, in neighbours’ homes or gardens, shared spaces, or on a public footpath or a street?

Then the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA18) will apply to you, and you will need to ensure your use of CCTV complies with these laws. This guidance refers to them as the ‘data protection laws’."

https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/domestic-cctv-systems-guidance-for-people-using-cctv/

Thank you - that's really helpful information.

Oh, and from the bottom of that same page...

The phrase ‘domestic CCTV system’ refers to the use of any video surveillance equipment mounted or fixed on your home. It can include cameras fitted to doorbells.

If the doorbells are set up to be cameras, do they manage to work as doorbells?

Yes, there is a button to press, as well as a sensor that gives the person notification that someone is coming to the door.

My neighbour has moved the camera and reduced its range so it only turns on when someone approaches the door, not when they are on the path

I was going to comment, but reading through the thread, every point I was going to make, has been addressed, so.. um .. oh look over there! Shiny ...