Abstract: A method of sharing the monitoring of video surveillance information between different users is provided. The video surveillance information from a user is transmitted over a network such as the Internet to a third party surveillance center. A user, or designated parties of that user, may access his own video surveillance information from the surveillance service in addition to video surveillance information that has originated from other users. Which other user video surveillance information may be accessed by a user is determined by a set of rules that are enforced by the surveillance service. The rules for allowing a user to view other users' video surveillance information may be based on geographical location, group affiliation, network of users, or otherwise. A user accessing other users' video surveillance information may or may not know these other users.