Adrian Lobsiger said private videos violated data protection and privacy regulations as there is no need for citizens to observe others and act as “deputy sheriffs”. He added that traffic surveillance was a task for the police.
The commissioner said as a rule such recordings should not be allowed as evidence in court. However, he acknowledged that the use of dashcam video material can be useful in cases of serious offences.
His opinion is opposed by legal experts.
A Zurich state prosecutor told SRF public television that such recordings can contain crucial evidence to prove the seriousness of a traffic offence.
There are no clear rules on the use of dash cams on Swiss roads, but observers say the increasing activity of private individuals has repeatedly caused controversies.
Later this year, the Supreme Court is due to rule in a case of dangerous driving on a motorway.
The use of body cameras has been tested by police in the city of Zurich and railway security personnel.
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Body cam scheme started on Swiss trains
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Body cameras appear on police radar
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Body cameras worn by police officers: technological progress that helps serve justice or an infringement of one's civil rights?
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The Swiss Supreme Court has already issued a ruling that bans the indiscriminate disclosure of people’s names without forewarning the individuals involved. This applies even when Switzerland has a treaty to automatically exchange tax information with other countries, as it does with 30 nations including the US. These treaties were signed following a US criminal…
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.