Law No. (9) of 2011 Regulating the Use of Security Cameras and Monitoring Devices

Law No. (9) of 2011 Regulating the Use of Security Cameras and Monitoring Devices

We, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar,

After reviewing the Constitution, and the Amirial Decision No. (41) of 2009 on the organizational structure of the Ministry of Interior, and upon the proposal of the Minister of Interior, and upon the draft law submitted by the Council of Ministers, after obtaining the opinion of the Shura Council,

We have enacted the following law:

Article (1) For the application of the provisions of this Law, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings indicated alongside each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:

• The Ministry: The Ministry of Interior.
• The Minister: The Minister of Interior.
• The Competent Authority: The authority designated by the Minister.
• Cameras and Monitoring Devices: Any device intended for transmitting and recording images, aimed at monitoring and observing the security status.
• Records: What is captured, transmitted, and recorded by cameras and monitoring devices.
• Establishments: Hotels, serviced apartments, residential complexes, banks, financial institutions, exchange offices, gold and jewelry shops, sports and cultural clubs, shopping and entertainment centers, hospitals, clinics, warehouses, and storage facilities for precious and hazardous materials designated by the Competent Authority, as well as other establishments whose designation is issued by a decision of the Council of Ministers upon the Minister's proposal.

Article (2) Owners of establishments and those responsible for their management shall install security cameras and monitoring devices and operate them around the clock, provided that they have a control room.

Article (3) Establishments shall maintain and update cameras and monitoring devices on a periodic and continuous basis to ensure their proper performance and ongoing compliance with technical specifications determined by the Minister's decision. The Competent Authority shall have the right to enter establishments for the purpose of inspecting cameras and monitoring devices, to verify their compliance with technical specifications and their effectiveness in achieving their intended purpose.

Article (4) The Competent Authority shall determine the locations and points for placing and installing cameras and monitoring devices, as well as their number, in establishments and public places throughout the State. The Competent Authority may, according to public interest requirements, oblige any establishment to connect its cameras and monitoring devices to its own systems.

Article (5) Establishments shall indicate by a clear sign that the premises are equipped with surveillance cameras.

Article (6) Establishments must retain records for one hundred and twenty days, without making any modifications to them, and submit them to the competent administration upon request. They must also destroy the records immediately after the expiration of that period.

Article (7) The transfer, storage, transmission, or publication of any records is prohibited unless approved by the Competent Authority.

Article (8) The installation of security cameras and monitoring devices in bedrooms, physiotherapy rooms, restrooms, changing rooms, and areas designated for women is prohibited.

Article (9) Records obtained by cameras and monitoring devices in establishments shall be considered evidence before investigation authorities and courts, unless the contrary is proven.

Article (10) Without prejudice to any heavier penalty stipulated in another law, anyone who violates any of the provisions of Articles (7) and (8) of this Law shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or a fine not exceeding (50,000) fifty thousand riyals, or both. The court may, as appropriate, in addition to the prescribed penalty, order the suspension of the activity license for a term not exceeding one year or its cancellation.

Article (11) Without prejudice to any heavier penalty stipulated in another law, anyone who violates the provisions of Articles (2), (3/ first paragraph), (4/ second paragraph), (5), and (6) of this Law shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or a fine not exceeding (10,000) ten thousand riyals, or both. The court may, as appropriate, in addition to the prescribed penalty, order the suspension of the activity license for a term not exceeding one year or its cancellation.

Article (12) The person responsible for the actual management of a legal entity shall be subject to the same penalties stipulated in the two preceding articles if their knowledge of the violation is established, or if their failure to fulfill the duties imposed by that management contributed to its occurrence. The legal entity shall be jointly liable for the payment of imposed fines and compensation, if the violation was committed by one of its employees in its name and for its benefit.

Article (13) Existing establishments at the date of implementation of this Law shall align their status with its provisions within one year from that date.

Article (14) All competent authorities shall, each within their respective scope, implement this Law. It shall be published in the Official Gazette.

Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Amir of the State of Qatar

Issued at the Amir's Diwan on: 15 / 6 / 1432 AH Corresponding to: 18 / 5 / 2011 AD