Danish watchdog criticizes Copenhagen Metro for denying CCTV access

You have the right to request surveillance footage after an incident on public transport. The Danish Data Protection Agency issued serious criticism against Copenhagen's Metro Service. Metro Service wrongfully denied a citizen access to CCTV footage.

The incident happened at Kongens Nytorv metro station. A citizen requested CCTV footage after experiencing an incident there. They gave a general description of their appearance. The time frame was between midnight and 6 a.m. over ten days.

Metro Service rejected the request. The operator cited high workload and public security concerns. It also claimed it could not identify the person. The agency ruled these grounds invalid. Operators must make specific legal assessments before denying access.

Metro Service deleted the footage after refusing the request. The watchdog stated this action broke data protection rules. Metro Service said it is now reviewing its handling procedures.

This report is based on coverage by CPH POST.