Are Nanny Cams an Invasion of Privacy?
Nanny cams, also known as hidden cameras or spy cameras, are a way to put a parent's mind at ease when they must leave their child in the care of others. The hidden devices monitor and record how a babysitter cares for the child and supplies proof of any wrongdoing. Because they secretly record the caregiver, nanny cams often raise the issue of invasion of privacy.
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What is a Nanny Cam?
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A nanny cam is a type of home security device that has an internal recording mechanism. It is a hidden video camera that is typically used to monitor caregivers or babysitters hired to care for children. A nanny cam provides a "set of eyes" for parents when they are out of the house and their children are left in someone else's care. A nanny cam can also be used to monitor a child's activities in one room while a parent is in another part of the house.
How a Nanny Cam Works
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The appeal of a nanny cam is that it can record from a remote location and its images viewed in real time or at a later time. A small digital camera is hidden in the unit, along with a DVR that records what the camera sees. There are also nanny cams that record directly onto an SD card or disc. Storage space varies based on the digital storing method installed in the hidden camera.
A nanny cam can be motion-activated or programmed to monitor and record during a set period of time. Images from the nanny cam can be viewed on a computer or television. Some nanny cams can also be hooked up to be viewed over the Internet.
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Different Types of Nanny Cams
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The two types of nanny cams are wireless and line wire. Wireless nanny cams transmit a signal from the camera to the receiver, which is also wireless. With wireless nanny cams, interference could be a concern, especially if there are wireless phones or routers in the home.
Line-wire nanny cams run off your home's electrical wires. As a result, there are no concerns of interference with other devices.
How Nanny Cams Are Hidden
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Nanny cams are designed with a hidden camera within a common household object. This makes it difficult for an outsider to know the security device is in use in the home.
Nanny cams are sold already installed in teddy bears, computer speakers, wall clocks, air purifiers, desk lamps, clock radios and plant containers. Designs that hold nanny cams vary to fit inconspicuously in any room of the house.
Are Nanny Cams an Invasion of Privacy?
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Nanny cams are legal in all 50 states and there are no requirements to inform caregivers or babysitters that they are being recorded on video. While research published in the August 19, 2002, issue of the UCLA Journal of Law and Technology finds that caregivers and babysitters are not against nanny cams, most prefer being informed of their use beforehand. Revealing the use of a nanny cam could also deter any wrongdoing, since the person knows it will be caught on tape.
The UCLA research further determined that parents do not consider nanny cams an invasion of privacy because they are installed in their own homes. Because most nanny cams do not record sound, they are not a violation of the federal Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act.
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