We at Service Stream Ltd. T/a MCN Media incorporating MCN MEDIA are covered by GDPR. All our cameras have been setup to only show the first few pews in a church, and they can also be turned off if required. We have suggested that recordings are kept no longer than 4 weeks. It is your responsibility to delete any recordings off our website or advise us when they can be deleted via email to support@mcn.live
We also strongly suggest using passwords to protect streaming and recordings for Weddings, funerals and services involving children.
As a church you need to know what areas in your church are covered by our cameras. We suggest putting notices on the pews that are being streamed, so people know they are being streamed live and possibly recorded. It is also worthwhile dedicating a film free area, so individuals who do not wish to appear on camera know they can sit somewhere safe where they will not be shown on camera. If you have people sitting in this area, it might be worthwhile having a Communion Steward go to this area to offer communion to these individuals.
We also suggest you have signs at the back of the church to advise that live Streaming / Intermittent recording is taking place and that the pews you have notices on to indicate which areas are in shot.
Once you have these notices in place, it would be worthwhile mentioning to your congregation about the areas that are being live streamed.
Anyone who appears on the stream, even if just going to the Altar to receive Holy Communion, will need to give their permission. This is because attendance at a church service reveals a person’s religious beliefs. This is a special category under GDPR.
We recommend you place a book at the back of the church before any service for congregation members to give their consent. Ask in your church newsletter for people to give their consent by signing this book. This book should be kept safe when no services are on.
Regular congregation members need only sign this book every 3 years. However, please be aware of new attendees who may not have been to your church before. For example, for Weddings and Funerals it would be best to announce this, to give people the opportunity to sign the book to give their consent before the service starts.
Consent needs to be given by the parent or guardian of the child. So we recommend the parent or guardian fills in the book at the back of the church for them also. If permission is denied, then some churches would make sure the child does not sit in front pews that are in shot and to make sure they do not go up for a blessing at communion.
There are many reasons why someone may wish to remove their consent to appear on streaming or recordings. You should make this as easy as possible for the individual.
If someone who has previously given consent decides to remove their consent and is pictured in a recording, it is unlikely that the video can be edited to just remove them. Many churches would find it easier to just delete it. However, you might be able to discuss this with the individual to see if another solution can be found. If the individual insists on removal, then the church should comply.
As advised above, we suggest that recordings are kept no longer than 4 weeks. It is your responsibility to delete any recordings off our website or advise us when they can be deleted via email to support@mcn.live
We also strongly suggest using passwords to protect streaming and recordings for Weddings, Funerals and services involving children.
All our cameras in funeral homes generally point at the coffin and around it. We recommend that funeral homes password protect their streams and recordings at all times.
Like above we would also advise them to keep a book of consent and advise people before each service that they will appear on camera.