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What are My Rights Against Video Surveillance?
Violated Privacy asks: "A video bugging device was recently discovered in the bathroom of the house I share with three others. After sharing this find with one of the housemates, I am sure whose camera it is. Needless to say, we're both rather upset over the matter. What are our legal rights in this matter? It's not the government doing it, but another private citizen with whom we willingly (until now...) share a house. Are there special considerations? (Yes, I should ask a lawyer. I plan on doing that tomorrow when I get a chance. The problem is, most lawyers aren't exactly experts in this area.) Has anyone on Slashdot done research into this field of privacy law?"
What's the address of the website you're on?
09F911029D74E35BD84156C5635688C0
Jesus loves you, I think you suck
This is completely legal. There's no use going to the police; people do this all the time. You should probably just put it behind you.
Oh, and could I have my video camera back? Thanks.
I would say unplug it and hide it in a closet, then casually mention that the alarm wasn't working too well so you threw it away and bought a new one.
Watch their reaction when they realize that their $350 just got tossed.
Different states have different laws on this... For instance, in Massachusetts so long as they weren't recording *sound*, then it's perfectly legal (yes, believe it or not!).
We *are* trying to fix this little loop-hole, but legislation has tied the bill up for a bit...
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge"
- Charles Darwin
I don't understand why you wouldn't just beat the fuck out of the person for doing it? Whatever happened to direct justice/vengeance? You know, it's not a BAD THING to get your own justice when someone does something wrong to you. Fill up a pillow cases with bars of soap and everyone can have at the prick. Hey, maybe you can even videotape it!
It's illegal in all 50 states (I'm assuming you're in the US). It often falls under the Peeping Tom laws but, there are also more stringent and specific laws in many places. In many states the person will become a registered sex offender, as they should be.
Here's a case from 2002. This story, dated August 2004, sounds very much like yours.
You Roomate Action
M M Physical violence, combined with targetted property destruction (erase HD, etc.)
F F Same as above
F M Police, court system - get him tagged as a sex offender for life
M F Sorry, you are S.O.L. Can't beat her up, legal system won't help. Just try to get the tapes/data erased and kick her out. Of course, if she's kinky enough, maybe there should be a change in strategy.
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
Hang a photo of the goatse guy in front of the camera...
heh heh
You could "forget about it" until you can invite someone under 18 over and have them use the bathroom.
Then "find" the camera... call the police, be sure ot tell them that a minor uysed the bathroom and was probably recorded... get him arrested for child porn.
Overall I like the idea of hitting his pocket... search and destroy! Leave no
evidence.
Better yet get compensation... have a friend sell them and keep the money
-Steve
"I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
Is there any question to which "You should use Linux!" is not the answer? ("What should I do about the hidden camera in my bathroom?" "Linux!")
Anyway, unless the roommate has a really old computer, he'd be better off using a Gentoo LiveCD with its Pentium optimization. That should save at least four or five milliseconds.
What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
Added a picture of the front of the unit to my page.
To answer your question, the clock just didn't look right. I'm not paranoid, but apparently at least curious enough to look closely.
The clock/radio/camera had been displaced in the bathroom by a larger/better mini-stereo a week or two ago. This past weekend, it was put back up on the shelf and plugged in. That was the source of my initial curiosity.
What got me really thinking was the lack of a tuning indicator. Actually, I was trying to figure out if the holes lit up with LEDs to show approximate tuning or what, and how the tuning of the radio worked. I peeled back the sticker on the front, and noticed the 3/4"-or-so lens assembly behind the leftmost hole.
It appears the tuning indicator was one of the casualties of the conversion to a camera, though the radio itself still works fine. In the pictures, you'll also note that the space for the back-up 9V battery is taken by the transmitter. Otherwise, the clock is still as fully functional as the day it rolled off the Sony production line.
± 29 dB