Video-sharing online giant, TikTok has lodged plans with Dublin City Council to erect 15 CCTV cameras on the exterior of its Dublin HQ "for additional security and surveillance purposes".
The application by TikTok Technology Ltd for the new CCTV system is the second security related application it has lodged with Dublin City Council in recent months.
In August, the City Council refused planning permission to TikTok to close off its planned cafe to the public at its Tropical Fruit Warehouse (TFW) HQ.
TikTok lodged the application arising from security considerations due to the sensitive nature of some of the work that will take place within the TFW building.
The TFW HQ houses TikTok's regional security organisation including the specialist Fusion Centre.
Now, outlining the need for the new external CCTV security system at TikTok’s TFW offices on Sir John Rogerson's Quay, senior planner at the Tom Philips + Associates planning consultancy, Linda Colleran has told the Council that "like any other company, TikTok require security cameras for the safety of employees, protection of assets and monitoring of access points, particularly given the prominent location of the site on St John Rogerson’s Quay".
Ms Colleran adds that "security is also paramount to the company due to the sensitive nature of some of the work conducted within the complex on a daily basis".
Ms Colleran also states that "consequently, data protection is of utmost importance and, as such, TikTok is required to comply with specific security regulation and policies".
Ms Colleran states that "the application therefore proposes a new CCTV security system for additional security and surveillance purposes".
Ms Colleran points out that TikTok has leased the entire Tropical Fruit Warehouse office complex "at its home for its growing workforce".
The planning report states that TikTok is proposing the installation of five security cameras to the northern, eastern and and southern sides of the original TFW structure and an additional 10 CCTV of the exterior of the nine-storey modern office building to the rear of the TFW structure.
The report states that the cameras to be affixed to the original TFW building, which is a protected structure, will be discreetly sized and placed in order not to detract from the building's appearance.
Ms Colleran stated that there are several precedent examples within the docklands area for the installation of external security cameras to the facades of protected structures.
Ms Colleran has told the council that the proposed development comprises minor additions to an existing office complex and are typical of what can be expected for a site locally in a primarily commercial area with the city centre.
Senior Surveillance and Human Rights Policy Officer at the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Olga Cronin said on Monday: "CCTV systems can have legitimate purposes, such as securing premises and/or to maintain the safety of persons.
Ms Cronin added: "But employees are entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy. Unless CCTV is used proportionately, it can cause legitimate concerns of unreasonable and unlawful intrusion into the data protection and privacy rights of individuals."
The application comes against the background of the National Cyber Security Centre advising staff at Government departments and agencies in April to move TikTok from their official devices, following a detailed risk review.
In an interview with The Irish Examiner on Monday, the Chinese ambassador to Ireland,He Xiangdong said that cybersecurity fears over TikTok are "nonsense" and the Irish Government is succumbing to American and European "fever".
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
