Is it illegal to place a micro-camera and microphone in a room without notifying employees?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Is it illegal to place a micro-camera and microphone in a room without notifying employees?
The company I work at told me that they would be putting a visible camera in the room just to check and make sure that the product being made is correct. However, what I just found out was that they had already placed a micro-camera along with a microphone in the room without telling me. Is this illegal and violate my right to privacy?
Asked on September 22, 2010 under Employment Labor Law, Minnesota
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
The right to the Fourth Amendment Right to Privacy boils down to the question of what is known as an "expectation" of privacy. One has an expectation of privacy in one's home. Workplace privacy, however, is different. There is an expectation of privacy in a bathroom for obvious reasons but in a common work area - where it seems that products are being assembled - may or may not violate rights based upon the specific facts surrounding the area in question and the type of surveillance cameras used. In other words, if the cameras are just in YOUR workplace then there would be a problem. And I could see the issue of the microphone as a First Amendment issue free speech issue as well. The idea that the camera was hidden until now is also irksome. I would consult with an attorney in your area on the matter. Good luck.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.