The alleged reason? Authorities say they lack the burglars’ explicit consent to distribute the material.
The warning highlights strict data protection rules under Norwegian and EU privacy regulations, which treat footage showing identifiable individuals – even those committing crimes – as sensitive personal data. Police stressed that publishing such videos on social media or community platforms without the perpetrators’ permission could violate privacy laws.
“Citizens must understand that even criminals have privacy rights,” a police spokesperson said. “We encourage people to report incidents directly to us with the footage, but we advise against public dissemination to avoid potential legal consequences for the homeowners themselves.”
The advisory has triggered a wave of criticism online, with many questioning the priorities of a justice system that appears to protect offenders over victims.
Homeowners with Ring and other CCTV systems frequently share clips of break-ins to alert neighbors and aid identification, a practice now under scrutiny.
Critics argue the guidance could discourage public vigilance and slow down community efforts to combat rising property crime. Police maintain they are simply following the law and have promised to investigate reported burglaries using officially submitted evidence. As of now, no changes to the policy have been announced.
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