Spanish art collective Luzinterruptus performed its latest installation last 26 December, covering surveillance cameras in the centre of Madrid with illuminated Santa Claus hats. Titled Merry Christmas to those who watch us, the action targeted mainly cameras monitoring the streets, as well as cameras located on public buildings and some on private property.

"Madrid is a city, in which, despite the existing rules, in practice, there is no real control over the monitoring devices installed on its streets", states the collective. "Citizens don't have the possibility of accessing the record of what these cameras record 24 hours a day in the places where they are situated."

The collective criticises the lack of criteria and control of these devices, which in 2007 were more than 20,000. Simultaneously, Luzinterruptus points out that while images of common citizens can be used and recorded freely, images of those in power are never subject to that same treatment.

Luzinterruptus: Merry Christmas to those who watch us
Time of installation: 4 hours
Damages: none
Exhibition time: unknown