The retention period for security camera recordings is determined by both legal regulations and technical capabilities . This period should be carefully planned, especially in areas with high population density, such as hotels , where the protection of privacy is paramount.
1. What is the Legally Mandatory Retention Period?
Although there is no clear and unambiguous "single law" regarding the recording durations of security cameras in Türkiye, some regulations and circulars provide guidance on this matter:
📌 Law Enforcement Circular
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Circulars published by the General Directorate of Security recommend that accommodation facilities such as hotels, shopping malls, dormitories and guesthouses keep camera recordings for at least 30 days .
📌 Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698 (KVKK)
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Under the Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK), image recordings are considered personal data . This data can only be stored for a specific purpose (e.g., security) and for the necessary period of time .
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Storing data for an unnecessarily long period of time may result in a violation of KVKK.
2. Technical Factors Affecting Recording Time
Whether your hotel's security camera footage is stored for 30 or 90 days depends on the following factors:
🔹 Storage Space (HDD/NAS/NVR Capacity)
Larger disk capacity = longer recording time.
Example: An NVR with a 16 TB disk can store 16 cameras at 1080p quality for 30 days.
🔹 Number of Cameras and Resolution
More cameras, higher resolution = more data.
🔹 Recording Mode
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Continuous recording
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Recording when motion is detected
In systems that record with motion, the storage period can be significantly extended.
🔹 Compression Technology
Devices that use H.265 or H.265+ compression instead of H.264 produce less data and record time is longer.
3. Storage Periods Applied in Practice According to Hotel Type
| Hotel Type | Average Retention Time |
|---|---|
| Small boutique hotel / guesthouse | 15 – 30 days |
| 3-4 star hotel | 30 – 60 days |
| 5-star hotel / Resort | 60 – 90 days |
| Chain hotel groups | 90 days and above |
4. Legal Responsibilities and Risks
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Lack of records may result in loss of evidence in a potential legal case.
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Records stored for an extended period of time may result in penalties under the KVKK.
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If there is a written request from the competent authorities (police, prosecutor's office) before the record is deleted , these records must be handed over.
Tip #5: Strike the Right Balance
✅ Keep records for at least 30 days (legal and safety advice).
✅ Encrypt recording devices against data leaks.
✅ Systematically delete old records after the legal period ends with the automatic deletion feature.
✅ Provide necessary information to employees for KVKK compliance (camera presence warnings, lighting texts, etc.).
Keeping your hotel's camera footage for a minimum of 30 days , and ideally 60-90 days , is the safest approach, both legally and operationally. However, when determining the retention period, a sustainable system that complies with KVKK and prevents the risk of evidence loss should be preferred.
