is it illegal to set up a hidden spy cam in your home to monitor kids, babysitter or stranger?

No
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no it’s not
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no its your house you rules
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no its not illegal, its your home,,,,just as long as you dont put it in the bathroom..etc….
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No, I think it’s fine if it’s inside your own house. If you’re concerned about the safety of your children, then you would be justified in doing do.
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if you owned the home, but were renting it to someone, i think it would be illegal to be taping them. But maybe not – the last i knew , the law was very unclear here. I have no idea if there is now some precedent.
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nope…iv seen many parents do this to check on nannys, babysitters and children etc…( it was on t.v and showed how they caught so many bad babysitters)
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i don’t think so if it for the safety of your kids do it anyway i would i f wanted to make sure they were safe
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A lot of people are doing so. If it catches someone in wrong doing, especially if you hired that person say for babysitting, etc., I do not believe it is illegal in any means. The safety of your family comes first and foremost in my mind.
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If it is in YOUR home, no.
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No, its your home.
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It is not only legal. But is what you should do if you care about your kids.
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No, it is your home, you can do that if you want.
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Haven’t you ever seen Maury Povich when they have people on that have video captured their babysitter beating their child? They didn’t get into trouble AND the babysitter was prosecuted.

I hope you’re children are safe and loved by their babysitter.
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http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/video-surveillance-is-it-lawful-or-not-142387.html

Video Surveillance: is it Lawful or Not?
Author: Nahshon Roberts | Posted: 04-05-2007 | Comments: 0 | Views: 3 | Ads by Google

You can now have your small business and home equipped with video surveillance equipment which was initially just for banks, airports, and casinos. A lot of people are searching for highly modern and state-fo-the-art video surveillance facilities for their small business and home.

New and better video surveillance cameras can be simply hidden inside clocks, plants, teddy bears, and even wall paintings. Video surveillance systems have made probable for you to increase the security and protection of your home. Video surveillance also allows you to observe your kids especially when you are in a different place. Whilst you are away from home, wireless nanny cams allow you to check your nanny’s performance to guarantee you that your kids are being taken care of.

Video surveillance is also installed in small businesses like convenient stores that are open 24 hours a day. Video surveillance tapes can also be used as proof in court, sometimes increasing the chance to convict a crook. Robbers and shoplifters are easily recognized by utilizing these residential and commercial security systems.

Commercial buildings and offices are now equipped with video surveillance. It is useful for the employers to observe their employees using video surveillance.

Usually, video recordings are legal in the U.S. with or without approval. However, video surveillance is illegal when:

1. Video surveillance systems are used in private locations. The United States have prohibited the use of these equipment in places such as locker rooms, bathrooms, dressing/changing rooms, and motels. Doing a video recording of a person partially or fully naked is forbidden.

2. Video surveillance is conducted with audio recording without obtaining permission. You will be charged with eavesdropping and wiretapping if you do a video surveillance with audio. This prohibition also includes recording a conversation that you are not a part of or have not been given consent to do so.

Some states require you to get consent from the person in charge of the area prior to conducting a video surveillance. When illegal activities are promoted by video surveillance, legal problems might arise. Using nanny cameras without the permission of people who are being monitored is strictly against the law in several states. The babysitter has to be notified before conducting the video surveillance. The main reason after all is to ensure the security and prevention of the kid from getting hurt and not to entrap the subject in the act of harassment.

Setting up businesses and homes with video surveillance systems provides owners of businesses and homes with peace of mind. When you plan on putting up a video surveillance equipment, check an attorney or a state or local police to make sure you are complying to laws and regulations prior to the use of video surveillance.

It is legal to film someone if they’re in an area where they can expect to be filmed and you don’t publish or release the footage. Anywhere but the bathroom is acceptable.
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your home; your rights
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Not illegal. "May" be required to to notify people who enter your home, but not tell them where the cameras are. Some states may require you to tell people they are being monitored or the video is considered inadmissible.

-edit- I think a lot of people on here assume your house, your rules, which isn’t always true. For instance in my home state it’s legal to protect your property with physical force, but only if they enter your residence, and even then only if they are injured/killed inside. If you shoot them as they are running away you can be charged with murder.

Best answer is to check with the local authorities for rules and regulations.
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No, as a matter of fact there are a number of companies out there that will set them up for you, it is part of your security system.
costs $99.00 and up for installation according to what you need. then there is a fee monthly.
Look in your phone book under security systems
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It is certainly NOT illegal to set up a spy cam in your home to monitor people in your home. Babysitters and strangers have no expectation of privacy from you when they are in YOUR home, no more than they would have walking into a monitored department store. Your children and overnight guests would have some expectation of privacy from the state (e.g., the police) while in your home but not from you as you are the homeowner. (Other answerers are also correct that you cannot set it up in the bathroom, but everywhere else is perfectly legal.)
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No, it’s perfectly legal to setup hidden cameras within your own home or property and film anything that’s going on. A person doesn’t have an expectation of privacy in another person’s home.

The one thing is that if you can’t publish their images or likeness without consent.
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It is only invasion of privacy when you use to video footage in a court or publish it publicly, as on the internet. You could be charged for a secret camera set up in a bathroom area as well.
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you can do what ever you want in your house heck these celebrity film themselves sex tapes y can’t you film for you kids safety.
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No it is not illegal. I think it is a good idea. There is actually a couple cases on cnn where they have caught nannies abusing their children. There were two that I know of this month alone.
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Privacy laws do NOT adhere to monitoring your home and it’s property–done in the interest of safety for your family and protection of your home and it’s property.

And if you DO capture criminal activity from your hidden spy cam, immediately contact local police, show them the evidence and file a complaint. Let them surprise the criminal with a swift arrest.
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You can have cameras in your house for security reasons and you do not have to tell anyone about it either.
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I mean, if you set up a clandestine camera in the home for apparently lascivious reasons (like in the bathroom), of course you could potentially get into trouble for it.

If your intentions are simply monitoring how your children are being treated, then certainly.

Say you did this and found something unacceptable happening to your kids in your own home, you could at least get the person out of your own home. Even if what was happening wasn’t illegal, you don’t have to tell them anything, just stop using this person to babysit.

If you catch something illegal happening in your home you have the added advantage of some pretty damning evidence. This gives you the satisfaction of knowing that the perpetrator will get caught and won’t be able to continue his/her illegal activities in your home or anyone else’s.

I would caution you though, that unless you really suspect something is going on, don’t use the camera. Do you really have time to review hours of video? You will probably witness people not necessarily being supernanny. But remember it doesn’t take a supernanny to keep your kids safe, show them a video, have them brush and put them to bed when you are out for the evening. You might begin to set your standards too high if you enter into this type of scrutiny, so relax.

If your children are old enough to talk, always get their feedback when there is someone else watching them, and believe it. Also, when hiring someone (who has squeaky clean references) go with your gut. Don’t be afraid to seek someone who puts you at ease because of what you see out of them in an interview, not just based on what other people say.
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