Two cameras on the second floor, three on the first floor where his office is located, and three on the ground floor. Serious suspicions of misuse of video surveillance and violation of privacy are being raised at the Food and Veterinary Agency (AFV), where employees are protesting that director Oliver Milanov has established a system for constant monitoring of their movements – live, from his office, a1.on.mk reported.
As the portal reports, according to testimonies, a network of at least eight cameras has been installed in the institution – spread across multiple floors, covering the hallways, entrances and access points to offices. But what makes the situation alarming, say employees, is not the mere existence of the cameras – but the manner in which they are used.
A monitor connected to all the cameras is installed in the director's office. According to employees, the device is constantly on and is used to directly monitor their movements.
"You can see who goes where, who enters which office, and even when someone goes to the bathroom," sources from the institution say.
This, they say, creates an atmosphere of constant pressure and fear, where every movement is potentially subject to control. An additional concern, they say, is that it is not clear who has access to the recorded material, nor where and how it is stored and archived.
According to the photo submitted to the portal, video surveillance was also active during a meeting, which was also attended by outsiders, which raises suspicions about possible unauthorized sharing of visual data.
Due to these suspicions, a complaint has already been submitted to the competent institution, requesting an investigation into whether the director violated the Personal Data Protection Law.
"According to the content of the complaint, video surveillance in the AHV goes beyond the legal framework and is used as a means of control, not for security. The case raises a broader question, are state institutions used for surveillance and control of employees, instead of for public interest? The Personal Data Protection Agency is expected to determine whether there is a violation of the law, but also to set clear limits on how far video surveillance in public institutions can go. A1on requested a response from the Personal Data Protection Agency a week ago, but although they promised to send a response, they are still silent and do not answer the phone," writes a1.on.mk, citing parts of the Personal Data Protection Law.
The director of AHV is Oliver Milanov, a member of the Socialist Party.
"He was appointed director as a political solution. He does not have the appropriate education for the position at the AHV because he graduated in dentistry, but failed to pass the final state exam at this faculty even after several attempts. He is the son of the former Socialist Party MP, Stojan Milanov, and the grandson of the long-time leader of the party, Ljubisav Ivanov Dzingo," writes a1.on.mk.
