Legal grounds for police officers' body-worn cameras

At the outset of the 21st century, police organizations are increasingly using body-worn cameras (BWC), which are commonly placed on the front part of the police officer's uniform. The use of these cameras is based on legal provisions which authorize police officers to record their actions, collect and process personal data. Based on the right of free access to information of public importance, the data collected in this manner may come into possession of interested parties and pose a threat to citizens' privacy. In line with the contemporary trends of modernizing police forces worldwide, in September 2023, the Serbian Police entered a BWC pilot project, which should be followed by a decision on the actual implementation of body-worn cameras in police practice. For this reason, this paper examines and analyzes the legal provisions regulating the use of body-worn cameras (BWC) in comparative legislations as well as the protection of citizens' privacy in such cases. By analyzing comparative law solutions and the Serbian Police Act, the author proposes some normative solutions for regulating the use of body-worn cameras and the protection of citizens' privacy in the Republic of Serbia.