Hidden Cameras (Nanny Cams, Covert Cameras) Legal For Home Or Office Use?

Are Hidden Cameras (Nanny Cams, Covert Cameras) Legal For Home Or Office Use?

Can Hidden/Nanny Cams be legally used in your home?

Currently, it is legal in all states to make a video-only recording of anything happening in your home, at any time, without informing anyone. Because the camera is hidden has no effect on this concept. As long as your camera is video only (no sound is being recorded), then you can do whatever you want with it, in your own home.

It is illegal to record someone's voice without their permission in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington State. If you live in any of these states, be sure the hidden camera/nanny camera DOES NOT record sound before buying one.

Can Hidden/Nanny Cams be legally used in the workplace?

This depends on your employer's intentions. The main issues are where the employer wants to put the cameras and why. Employers must have a reasonable, legitimate business reason for wanting to monitor employees by camera, such as for security reasons or to prevent theft. Some states have made certain areas of the workplace off-limits to cameras, such as restrooms.

A very important thing to know about cameras in your workplace is that your employer is required to let you know that they are there.

NOTE: Since laws change from state to state at any time, it is advisable to check your state laws before purchasing a nanny cam.