By LawInspectsThat actually depends on where you’re recording someone. Like, it is clearly not illegal to record someone in a public area without their consent, but if you do the same while standing on private property, then it can very well be counted as an illegal thing. These days, quite literally everyone has access to smartphones and tiny cameras, so this seriously becomes a legit question. So, if you’re also super confused about it all, then let’s just make it a whole lot simpler for everybody. Here we go.
What Does the Law Say About Recording Someone?
Well, to be honest, it is kinda hard to believe that there’s no one big rule in the U.S. for recording people, and it gets pretty tricky depending on where you are! Tricky? Well, you see, instead, you’ve got federal and state laws that figure out what’s okay and what’s not, so that’s how it works, actually! Still, to put it simply, you see, whether it’s okay to record someone without them knowing depends on a few things. It’s all about things such as where you are, if it’s video or audio, if the person thinks they’re private, etc.
So, yes, the big idea is where about expecting privacy, and that can’t happen when you’re in a public sport, right? Like, just for example, if someone’s in a place where they think they’re alone, stuff like a bathroom or bedroom, they’ve got the right not to be recorded, and it is straight up illegal, not just in the US, but practically everywhere else in the world. But on the contrary to that, let’s say you’re in a public area, like walking down the street, or strolling in a park or something like that, and in such a scenario, you can record whatever you want and whoever you want. No problem at all! That is perfectly legal.
Recording in Public vs. Private Places, Well, This Is Where The Big Difference Is
As we already pretty much gave it off that recording, someone depends on where you’re recording someone from. Like, there is are clear distinction between recording someone in a private place or a public place. It is just fine if you do it while standing in a public space, but once you’re recording someone while standing on private property, that becomes straight up illegal, and you can very well face consequences for that.
And it is not just about recording that you can get in trouble for, you see, you might even get in big trouble like trespassing! Another thing to keep in mind is that even if you’re allowed to be somewhere, no way you cannot record in some places, for sure. You know, like, bathrooms, dressing rooms, locker rooms, or anywhere people think they’re private, so just don’t record there, and if you find recording in these places, absolutely, you must be sick in the mind, and you should expect to face legal consequences for that.