Security cameras rolling in 50,000 locations across Belgium

Belgium has seen a nearly fivefold increase in the number of surveillance cameras since 2010, according to figures from the Private Affairs Commission, writes Het Laatste Nieuws.

Since 2010, all owners of a surveillance camera are required to report it to the privacy committee. At that time, there were more than 10,084 places in Belgium equipped with one or more cameras. At present, the counter is at 47,377.

All of the cameras fall into one of three categories: public streets and squares (822), closed places such as department stores, sports halls or public transport (39,198) and the workplace (7,117).

"We only count the places where camera systems are installed and running", explains Peter Van den Eynde of the Private Affairs Commission. "The number of physical cameras is much higher."