Face Blurring for Livestreams: Protecting Privacy with Milestone XProtect and Facit’s Identity Cloak
In today’s surveillance state, privacy and security are intertwined - and often at war. Here’s a statistic to consider: 74% of people feel uncomfortable being live-streamed in public places, even if it’s for safety reasons, according to an Ofcom report.
That’s the tension - how can organisations be safe through real-time monitoring while respecting individual’s privacy rights?
Enter Milestone XProtect, a video management software (VMS) that now has live face blurring, also known as video redaction.
Powered by Facit’s Identity Cloak, this live redaction feature is changing the game for organisations that live stream surveillance. From logistics warehouses and public rail systems to schools and hospitals, the need to blur faces in real-time isn’t just a feature, it’s a compliance requirement.
Protect Privacy in Live Video Feeds Without Compromising Security
As live video becomes the norm in operational environments - think healthcare control rooms, postal depots and rail maintenance yards - the importance of responsible surveillance is clear.
Regulatory frameworks like GDPR and union-driven privacy mandates require a balance: implement surveillance for safety, but don’t expose identities unnecessarily.
Milestone XProtect gives you that security-compliance balance with:
Real-time face and body redaction
Permission-based visibility controls
On-demand unblurring in the event of incidents
It’s not just about privacy - it’s about carrying out surveillance effectively and ethically.
Why Live Video Redaction Matters
The world has seen a live CCTV explosion. Companies are no longer waiting to review footage after the fact; they want real-time visibility. But with that comes significant legal and ethical obligations:
Data protection regulations like GDPR
Employee union agreements
Public trust and institutional accountability
Live video redaction is a safeguard to ensure critical operations remain visible to those who need it, without exposing those who don’t.
Real-World Challenges Driving Live-Stream Demand
Let’s get specific. Here are some use cases where Milestone XProtect’s live redaction features are being used:
Oil Rigs
Engineers do remote machinery checks. Equipment must be visible, but workers’ faces are blurred to protect identity.Belgium Postal Service
A fisheye camera in a warehouse was deemed non-compliant. Face blur solved the problem while maintaining oversight.European Rail Maintenance
Live-streamed inspections along public lines require public figures to be anonymised in real time.DPD Depots
Headquarters oversees dozens of depots with live feeds. Staff faces are blurred unless access is authorised.City of Lille
In municipal control rooms, access rights determine whether faces are blurred or unblurred unless an incident justifies full visibility.NHS Control Room
In healthcare, privacy is paramount. Live blur ensures patient confidentiality even in live views.Princeton University
Guard stations use live face blurring to ensure students and visitors aren’t exposed to unnecessary scrutiny on public monitors.
These are just a few examples of how live redaction has become mission-critical across industries.
Milestone XProtect for Live Redaction Features
Milestone XProtect’s edge is in its granular control and seamless integration. Here’s what sets it apart:
Live face censoring
Blur faces and bodies in real time without latency or disruption.Permission-based viewing
Different users, different access levels. Administrators can toggle redaction depending on clearance.Incident-ready
When an incident occurs, authorised users can temporarily disable redaction to investigate fully.Scalability
From a local facility to a national network, Milestone adapts to your needs.Plug-and-play integration
XProtect works with your existing infrastructure, no rip-and-replace required.
Compliance and Operational Benefits
Live redaction goes beyond optics. It’s effective, measurable compliance:
Aligns with GDPR, HIPAA, union and workplace privacy mandates
Allows supervisors to monitor without breaching privacy
Enables organisations to define who can see what, when
Serves multiple sectors: logistics, transportation, government, education
Real-time video redaction provides a dual benefit: regulatory protection and operational transparency.
Future-Proof Your Surveillance
Surveillance isn’t going away; if anything, it’s becoming more integrated into how we manage, monitor and maintain our organisations. But privacy expectations are evolving just as quickly.
With Milestone XProtect’s live redaction features, you’re not just adapting, you’re staying ahead. You’re safeguarding your people, your assets and your compliance posture.
Whether you manage a data centre, a hospital, a university campus or a fleet of delivery hubs, real-time redaction means you can monitor responsibly, without second-guessing your legal or ethical standing.
Facit’s Identity Cloak: Seamless Redaction for Live Video Feeds
Facit’s Identity Cloak is the engine behind these powerful redaction features. When integrated with Milestone XProtect, it adds an extra layer of smart automation and configurability:
Automatic facial and body detection for consistent anonymisation
Customisable blur intensity and redaction zones to fine-tune visibility
Live un-redaction for authorised users to review real-time incidents
Support for all camera types, including fisheye and PTS cameras
Audit logs and transparency reports to demonstrate compliance
Identity Cloak doesn’t just blur faces, it enables organisations to tailor privacy controls to specific workflows, compliance needs and stakeholder roles.
Blur Faces on Live Streams with Identity Cloak
Redaction used to be something you added post-incident. Now, it’s something you do live.
Facit’s Identity Cloak solves critical pain points:
Avoiding compliance penalties
Maintaining public trust
Meeting union expectations
Preserving situational awareness without overexposure
The result? Safer operations that don’t sacrifice ethics or oversight.
Learn more about Identity Cloak and how it integrates with Milestone XProtect here.
In a world in which surveillance is necessary, privacy must still be protected.
With Milestone XProtect and Identity Cloak, you no longer have to choose between safety and compliance; you can have both.
