[vidarh]

Regulation of CCTV generally takes the approach that there's a substantial difference between you standing there with a camera and CCTV because you standing there with a camera produces a substantially different level of signal that people are being observed.

Your right to take the footage is in competition with peoples right to a reasonable level of privacy even in public spaces, as there is a huge difference between being seen by someone, being filmed by someone when they happen to be there, and being constantly filmed by automated systems that may or may not be appropriately controlled to ensure images are not spread.

The approach taken tends to vary between outlawing it or allowing it with restrictions, including making you subject to retention and subject access policies.

E.g. in the UK, which is notorious for the amounts of CCTV, you can cover public areas if necessary, but you then need to be prepared to delete footage of people on request, respond to subject access requests, ensure the footage is kept securely, ensuring the footage is deleted regularly, and restrict access to the footage. You also need to be able to provide - in writing if requested - legitimate reasons for doing so. Here's the ICO's advice page on the subject[1]

[1] https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/domestic-cctv-systems-g...