As the festive season approaches, workplaces across the country are preparing for their annual Christmas parties. While most events pass without incident, businesses are increasingly aware of the potential risks associated with workplace gatherings, particularly around employee conduct. When concerns arise, such as allegations of inappropriate behaviour, companies may turn to venue CCTV or mobile-phone recordings to support internal investigations or legal processes.

Personal Data

Before any organisation shares video footage with HR teams, legal representatives, insurers, or third parties, it is essential to ensure that all personal data within the footage is redacted properly. This is where professional video redaction becomes an indispensable part of your GDPR compliance strategy.

Why You Cannot Share Raw Footage

Under the GDPR, video footage that contains identifiable individuals constitutes personal data. This includes employees, guests, venue staff, and anyone else captured on camera. Sharing unedited footage, even with good intentions, can amount to an unlawful disclosure of personal data if those individuals have not provided consent.

Even if only one or two individuals are the subject of a complaint, the video may show many others in the background talking, dancing, socialising, or simply moving within the camera’s field of view. If these people can be recognised through their face, clothing or other distinguishing features, their privacy must be protected.

The Role of Redaction in HR and Legal Investigations

Redaction ensures that only the necessary information is shared. It allows businesses to isolate and present key events while obscuring or blurring all non-essential individuals or sensitive data. This protects the privacy rights of bystanders and shields organisations from potential GDPR breaches.

For HR teams, insurance providers, and legal representatives, receiving redacted footage ensures they have access to the material they need, nothing more, nothing less.

Appropriate redaction reduces the risk of:

  • Unlawful disclosure of personal data
  • Compromising the rights of uninvolved individuals
  • Claims of mishandling data or breaching confidentiality
  • Reputational damage arising from privacy concerns

Datascan Redaction specialises in preparing video evidence for safe, compliant, and efficient sharing. Whether the footage comes from a mobile phone, venue CCTV system, or internal security camera, our team ensures:

  • Accurate and consistent blurring of faces and identifying features
  • Protection of audio content where necessary
  • High quality output suitable for HR reviews, legal claims, or third-party sharing
  • A fully GDPR compliant workflow

Our expertise ensures every frame is correctly processed, giving you confidence that the material is both usable and compliant. If your business requires video redaction services this festive season, we are here to help.