What’s Your Liability Installing Covert Cameras?

Do you have a company policy regarding the installation of covert cameras (aka nanny cams) in a home?

If you don’t, you should.

Nannies sometimes use the homeowner’s dwelling as their own home. What if the covert camera catches the nanny harming the children or performing inappropriate acts?

The homeowner will obviously not hire the babysitter again. But could this potentially open up the installer to legal charges?

According to expert alarm attorney Ken Kirschenbaum of Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum, it is vital that you check your state regulations before doing an installation like that. Covert audio recording is almost universally illegal.

“I would be concerned about installing covert cameras, even in a home," Kirschenbaum says. "Invasion of privacy certainly can take place in a home and some jurisdictions make it a crime not only for the property or end user, but the installer.”

Do you install covert residential camera systems? Tell us why or why not.