---
title: "Housing societies, CCTV and visitor apps: your rights and how to..."
description: "CCTV, visitor logs, resident WhatsApp groups and apps that run society gates. Plain steps, helplines and templates."
url: "https://dpdpr.in/rights/housing-societies/"
canonical: "https://dpdpr.in/rights/housing-societies/"
site: "dpdpr.in"
updated: "2026-11-02"
disclaimer: "Independent reference, not legal advice. Not affiliated with the Government of India or MeitY."
---

# Housing societies, CCTV and visitor apps: your rights and how to complain

Plain-language help for ordinary people. General information, not legal advice. Helplines, portals and screen names were checked against official Government and regulator pages on 1 November 2026. Portals change: if a screen looks different, follow the words on the screen and the official guide linked in each step.

## What data they hold

- Residents' names, flat numbers, phone numbers and vehicle numbers.
- Visitor logs with photos and phone numbers.
- CCTV footage of common areas.
- Maid, driver and staff ID documents.

## Your rights under current law

- There is no single national law for society CCTV. Your society's bye-laws and your State's co-operative societies law govern how the managing committee works.
- Capturing or sharing images of a person's private area without consent is a crime under section 66E of the IT Act, 2000. A camera pointing into a home or bathroom is a police matter.
- Visitor and gate apps are run by companies. Their privacy policy and grievance officer apply to the data they collect.

## Your DPDP rights once in force

Sections 11 to 14 of the DPDP Act (your rights) and the duties of companies in sections 4 to 10 start on **13 May 2027** (G.S.R. 843(E)). Until then, use the sector rules on this page. After that date you can use both.

The DPDP Act does not apply to data used by an individual for a personal or domestic purpose (section 3(c)(i)). A society or a visitor app company is not an individual acting for a domestic purpose, so from 13 May 2027 it is likely to be a Data Fiduciary for the digital data it handles. Then you can ask it what it holds about you and your visitors, ask for correction or erasure, and use its grievance route.

- Access: a summary of your data and who it was shared with ([section 11](https://dpdpr.in/act/section-11/)).
- Correction, completion, updating and erasure ([section 12](https://dpdpr.in/act/section-12/)).
- Grievance redressal by the company, before going to the Board ([section 13](https://dpdpr.in/act/section-13/)).
- Nominate someone to act after your death or incapacity ([section 14](https://dpdpr.in/act/section-14/)).
- Withdraw consent, as easily as you gave it ([section 6(4)](https://dpdpr.in/act/section-6/)).

## Common problems

- Residents' phone numbers leaked to sellers.
- CCTV footage shared on WhatsApp.
- A camera angled into your flat.
- Visitor apps keeping photos of guests and staff.

## Evidence to keep

- Photos showing where the camera points.
- Screenshots of shared footage or lists.
- The society notice or app policy.
- Your letter to the managing committee and its reply.

See the full [evidence checklist](https://dpdpr.in/rights/evidence-checklist/).

## How to approach, step by step

Go in this order. Start with the company. Move to the next step only when the time limit has passed or the reply is not good enough. If money was lost or you were threatened, go to 1930 or the police first.

### Write to the company's grievance officer

Most apps and websites must name a grievance officer. E-commerce sites, ride apps and platforms such as job portals, dating and matrimony apps all have one under the rules that apply to them.

**Keep this ready before you start:**

- Your account ID, registered mobile or email, and order or booking number.
- Screenshots and dates.
- What you want: delete my data, stop calls, refund, remove a profile.

1. Open the app or website. Look for **Grievance Officer**, **Contact us** or **Privacy policy**. The officer's name and contact must be shown there.
2. Write a short complaint. Use the template on this page.
3. Attach screenshots.
4. Send it. Save the acknowledgement or ticket number and the date.
5. Wait for the time limit for that kind of company (shown in the time limits on this page).
6. If there is no reply, send one reminder with your ticket number.
7. Then go to the next step on this page.

Checked on 1 November 2026 against: [National Consumer Helpline FAQ: Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020](https://consumerhelpline.gov.in/faq-details.php?fid=E-Commerce), [IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, as amended up to 10 February 2026](https://www.meity.gov.in/documents/act-and-policies/information-technology-intermediary-guidelines-and-digital-media-ethics-code-rules-2021-it-rules-2021-IjM5QjMtQWa).

### File a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in

The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal takes complaints about online fraud, hacking, fake profiles, harassment and more. Your complaint goes to the police of your State or Union Territory. The screen names below come from the portal's FAQ and the Ministry of Home Affairs citizen manual. The portal can change. If a screen looks different, follow the words on the screen.

**Keep this ready before you start:**

- Date and time of the incident.
- Incident details in your own words. The portal checklist asks for at least 200 characters and no special characters such as # $ @ ^ \* \` ~ | !
- A photo or scan of a national ID (Voter ID, Driving Licence, Passport, PAN or Aadhaar) in .jpg, .jpeg or .png, not more than 5 MB.
- For money fraud: bank or wallet name, 12 digit transaction ID or UTR, date and amount.
- Evidence files such as screenshots, not more than 10 MB each.
- If known: the other person's mobile number, email, bank account, website link or social media handle.

1. Open [cybercrime.gov.in](https://cybercrime.gov.in) in a browser.
2. Click **File a complaint**.
3. Read the message. Tick **I Accept**.
4. Click **Report Other Cyber Crime**. (For sexual content involving women or children, use the women and child section instead.)
5. Type your name in **User Name**. Type your mobile number.
6. Click **Get OTP**. Type the OTP you receive. It is valid for 30 minutes.
7. Fill the security answer. Click **Submit**.
8. In **Incident details**, choose the **Category of complaint**. For money loss choose Online Financial Fraud. For fake profiles or harassment choose Online and Social Media Related Crime.
9. Choose the **Sub-Category** that fits best.
10. Enter the approximate date and time. If you are late, fill **Reason for delay in reporting**.
11. Choose **Where did the incident occur?** (for example a phone call, SMS, WhatsApp, a website or an app).
12. Upload your evidence files.
13. Write what happened in the details box. Say who contacted you, from which number, what they said, what you shared or paid, and when.
14. Click **Save and Next**.
15. Add suspect details if you have them: name, mobile number, bank account, UPI ID or website. Click **Save & Next**.
16. Fill your own details and address. Choose your State, District and Police Station.
17. Upload your ID proof. Click **Save & Preview**.
18. Check everything. Tick **I Agree**. Click **Confirm & Submit**.
19. Write down the **Complaint ID** shown on screen. You also get it by SMS and email. It is a complaint number, not an FIR number.
20. Click **Download PDF** and save the file in a safe folder.
21. To check progress later, log in the same way and click **Check Status**.
22. If you get no action, or are not happy with what the police did, contact the cyber crime grievance officer of your State or Union Territory listed on the portal. You can also visit your local police station with the PDF and ask for an FIR.

Checked on 1 November 2026 against: [National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: FAQ](https://cybercrime.gov.in/Webform/FAQ.aspx), [National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: checklist before filing](https://www.cybercrime.gov.in/Webform/Crime_AuthoLogin.aspx), [I4C (Ministry of Home Affairs): National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and 1930](https://i4c.mha.gov.in/ncrp.aspx).

### Use your DPDP rights (from 13 May 2027)

The rights in sections 11 to 14 of the DPDP Act, and the duties of companies that go with them, start on 13 May 2027 (G.S.R. 843(E)). Until then you can still write to a company and ask. Many will answer. But they are not yet bound by these sections.

**Keep this ready before you start:**

- The company's published method for rights requests. Rule 14 says companies must show it on their website or app.
- The identifier they ask for, such as your username, customer ID or registered mobile number.

1. Find the company's rights or grievance page, or its Data Protection Officer contact.
2. Send a written request using the method they publish. Use our [request letter template](https://dpdpr.in/rights/rights-request-letter/).
3. Ask for what you need: a summary of your data and how it is used, and the names of everyone it was shared with (section 11); correction, completion, updating or erasure (section 12); or a fix for a grievance (section 13). You can also nominate someone to act for you after death or incapacity (section 14), and withdraw consent (section 6(4)).
4. Save the acknowledgement or ticket number.
5. Wait for the time they publish. Rule 14(3) says it cannot be more than 90 days.
6. If they refuse or do not answer, you can complain to the Data Protection Board of India. You must use the company's grievance route first (section 13(3)).
7. The Board works as a digital office. Use the method it publishes on its website and app (rule 19). We will add the link when the Board publishes it.

Checked on 1 November 2026 against: [Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (MeitY copy of the Gazette)](https://www.meity.gov.in/static/uploads/2024/02/Digital-Personal-Data-Protection-Act-2023.pdf), [Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 (G.S.R. 846(E))](https://www.meity.gov.in/static/uploads/2025/11/53450e6e5dc0bfa85ebd78686cadad39.pdf), [G.S.R. 843(E): start dates for the Act](https://www.meity.gov.in/static/uploads/2025/11/c56ceae6c383460ca69577428d36828b.pdf).

## Ready-to-use complaint

Copy, fill the brackets, and send it through the company's official channel. Keep a copy.

To: Secretary, Managing Committee, \[society\] Subject: Use of residents' personal data and CCTV, flat \[number\] Please tell me: who can view the CCTV footage and visitor records; how long they are kept; whether any resident data was shared outside the committee or with any app company; and the steps taken to stop \[describe the problem\]. Please place this before the next committee meeting and reply in writing. \[Name\], \[flat\], \[mobile\], \[date\]

## Time limits

- Committee: follow your bye-laws for replies and general body meetings.
- Crime (camera into a private area): report to the police at once.
- DPDP rights: from 13 May 2027.

## If this happened to you

- [\*\*My housing society shared residents' data or CCTV footage\*\*The committee or security agency shared your phone number, flat details or CCTV clips.](https://dpdpr.in/rights/scenarios/housing-society-cctv/)
- [\*\*Someone called with personal details I never shared with them\*\*A caller knew your name, address, purchases or family details, and named a company.](https://dpdpr.in/rights/scenarios/caller-knew-my-details/)
- [\*\*The society will not show me CCTV footage of an incident\*\*Something happened to you or your car in the society, and the committee will not share the footage.](https://dpdpr.in/rights/scenarios/society-wont-show-cctv/)
- [\*\*My neighbour's camera records my door\*\*A neighbour installed a camera that watches your door or home.](https://dpdpr.in/rights/scenarios/neighbour-camera-faces-door/)
- [\*\*The society app or guard records every visitor, or the society group shared residents' details\*\*Visitor apps record names, numbers and photos, or a residents' group shared phone numbers and flat details.](https://dpdpr.in/rights/scenarios/society-visitor-app/)

## Official sources

- [IT Act, 2000, section 66E: violation of privacy (India Code)](https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?actid=AC_CEN_45_76_00001_200021_1517807324077&orderno=81§ionId=13090§ionno=66E)
- [Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (MeitY copy of the Gazette)](https://www.meity.gov.in/static/uploads/2024/02/Digital-Personal-Data-Protection-Act-2023.pdf)
- [Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (MeitY copy of the Gazette)](https://www.meity.gov.in/static/uploads/2024/02/Digital-Personal-Data-Protection-Act-2023.pdf)
- [G.S.R. 843(E): start dates for the Act](https://www.meity.gov.in/static/uploads/2025/11/c56ceae6c383460ca69577428d36828b.pdf)