In this case, I would say Gnome was a good choice.
Just looking the same as macOS would not be the real requirement, as long as the user gets a sense of familiarity.
You really want to give them as simple a configuration system as possible, for which Gnome is a good idea.
I won’t be going to Gnome, because I am fine with putting a few extra seconds to understand the options to get the high configurability in return but that might not be the case for OP’s parents.
And if some specific unavailable feature was required, they would probably ask OP, who can then install a corresponding extension.











This also boils down to who is in control of the data.
Whoever gets to approve the data requests, needs to be answerable to those whose footage is being recorded.
If footage is asked for, then such a request needs to be logged publicly, with the requester’s identifiable information and stored as a permanent record, regardless of approval.
If any legislation is to be made regarding this, it is important to keep in mind that incomplete footage can be more harmful and will be misused.
Then comes the point where cops don’t really care about correctly solving a case and are happy with propping any random citizen as a criminal. And considering how easily they can get away with harassment even after being exposed, it honestly doesn’t make sense to me at all that they be given absolutely any extra privileges.
From my standpoint, if I can’t use a local police camera to get informed on who cut the brake-cable of my bicycle, then there might as well be no police camera.
Everytime I have personally seen the police go out of their way to do something, they never had any legitimate purposes.